Bears say Caleb Williams is week-to-week with hamstring injury and will ‘miss some time’

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’s hamstring injury is going to be a “week-to-week thing,” Chicago coach Ben Johnson said Monday in a ⁠radio interview on ESPN 1000.

Johnson did not put a definitive timeline on Williams’s recovery.

“He’s going to miss some time. I haven’t met with the trainers ⁠yet but will have the full lowdown,” Johnson said. “He does tend to recover from these things quickly.”

Williams was hurt when attempting to reach the end zone ⁠with a fourth-quarter scramble on the wet turf at Soldier Field. He awkwardly tumbled to the ​turf on his knees and rolled over a ‌couple times in pain ‌before the Bears’ medical staff attended to him.

The initial reporting on Sunday said that Williams sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The Ringer reported that Williams could play next week against the Eagles, although Johnson’s statement suggests that scenario is doubtful.

The 24-year-old has made 36 consecutive starts since the Bears drafted him No 1 overall in 2024. He has completed 65.5% of ‌his passes for 407 yards, two touchdowns and one interception this season for Chicago, who are 1-1 this season.

If Williams is unable to go next Monday against the Eagles, it would ​mark the first time Johnson has been forced to start a backup quarterback as an offensive playcaller. Jared Goff started all 51 games for the Lions from 2022-24, when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator.

Chicago backup Tyson Bagent completed 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards in relief on Sunday. He has ⁠thrown for 971 yards, three TDs and six interceptions in 13 games (four starts) ​over the last four seasons. ​All four of his starts ​came as a rookie in 2023 for Chicago.

If Bagent is called upon ​to start, Johnson ‌said he has ​confidence in the quarterback.

“He’s wired ​the right way. Having a full week of preparation can make all the difference in performance,” Johnson said of Bagent. “I said at the combine, we view him as one of the top 32 [quarterback in the NFL]. The way he approaches it, his teammates are going to fight their tails off for him.”