Up to date Sept. 21, 2026, 4:20 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bears did not simply lose their Week 2 sport to the Minnesota Vikings. Additionally they misplaced their beginning quarterback Caleb Williams to an harm.
Williams suffered a hamstring harm throughout a first-down scramble within the fourth quarter. The third-year quarterback reached for the again of his leg earlier than sliding to the bottom, in ache. He remained down and acquired medical consideration on the sector earlier than being carried to the sideline.
Williams was ultimately loaded onto a cart and brought to the locker room. He flashed the gang at Soldier Area a thumbs-up whereas pumping his fist as he left the sector.
Williams was dominated out for the sport due to the harm. Now, Bears followers are questioning when precisely he might be able to play once more.
Here is what to learn about Williams’ harm and when he could return to the sector.
How lengthy is Caleb Williams out?
Johnson confirmed that Williams is being thought-about week-to-week when he met with reporters on Sept. 21.
The pinnacle coach added that the group will see the place he is at because the week progresses. Johnson famous that the report on Williams’ harm was encouraging and he would depart it there.
When requested about observe availability, Johnson stated he did not consider Williams would observe forward of Week 3. Regardless of being on monitor for no observe time, the coach would not rule out his star quarterback.
“[Williams] is correct now working by way of each avenue that he is obtained accessible to get again on monitor,” Johnson stated. “This man is a little bit bit completely different than the common human being. I stated that final evening, I am going to double down on that. He will get again, previously, quite a bit sooner than what individuals can anticipate and so I am not placing a timeline on this.”
On Monday, Bears HC Ben Johnson informed ESPN 1000 in Chicago that he expects QB Caleb Williams to be “week to week” with the hamstring harm that he suffered Sunday. A precise return date is TBD.
Assessments on Williams’ harm hamstring revealed he had “averted any main harm,” in line with The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero. That might assist make his absence be of the short-term selection.
In reality, Pelissero reviews the Bears have not but dominated out Williams from taking part in of their Week 3 “Monday Evening Soccer” sport towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears haven’t but supplied an official replace on Williams’ timeline to return.
Caleb Williams harm replace
The Bears introduced Williams was coping with a hamstring harm shortly after he exited the sport towards the Vikings. He was dominated out, however the group didn’t present any further updates on his standing after that.
Ben Johnson informed reporters following the sport Williams was in “good spirits” regardless of his ailment. The second-year coach stated he was not capable of estimate the severity of the quarterback’s harm however expressed gratitude Williams’ knee was not injured.
“I am really completely happy it is nothing with the knee,” Johnson stated, referencing Williams’ harm. “That was my first inclination. However yeah, the hamstring might be fairly damaging as effectively. So we’ll see how dangerous it’s tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Who’s Caleb Williams’ backup?
Tyson Bagent is the Bears’ backup quarterback. The 26-year-old changed Williams following the 2024 first-round decide’s hamstring harm and accomplished 5 of 9 passes for 54 yards in Chicago’s 9-3 loss.
Bagent initially joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd in 2023. He has began 4 video games in Chicago, and has accomplished 66.4% of his profession passes for 917 yards, three touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
The Bears assume extremely of Bagent, as they signed him to a two-year, $10 million extension to be the group’s long-term backup quarterback in 2025.
Bears QB depth chart
The Bears presently have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and 4 inside their group. Here is a have a look at the pecking order inside that unit.
- Caleb Williams (injured)
- Tyson Bagent
- Case Keenum
- Miller Moss
As talked about, Bagent might be elevated into the Bears’ beginning quarterback position if Williams has to overlook time due to his hamstring harm. That might open the door for Keenum to function Bagent’s backup.
Keenum, 38, has been within the NFL since signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2012. The Houston product has a 30-36 file and an 84.6 passer ranking throughout 66 profession NFL begins. He has performed for 9 completely different NFL groups, together with the Bears.
Keenum is best-known amongst NFL followers for his 2017 stint with the Vikings. Throughout that season, he led the group to an 11-3 file throughout 14 regular-season begins and guided Minnesota to an NFC championship sport look. He accomplished 67.6% of his passes for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and 7 interceptions whereas ending second within the NFL’s Comeback Participant of the 12 months award voting.
Lastly, Moss is the lone quarterback not on the Bears’ 53-man roster. He’s presently on the group’s observe squad however might be referred to as as much as present further depth if Williams misses time. The 2026 undrafted free agent performed collegiately at USC and Louisville, finishing 64.2% of his passes for two,679 yards, 16 touchdowns and 7 interceptions throughout his lone season with the Cardinals in 2025.
