Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that doctors typically expect to require three to four weeks of recovery, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Williams suffered the injury during a non-contact scramble late in last Sunday’s 9-3 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was carted off the field and has not practiced since.
The Bears already ruled him out of Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be the first NFL start he has missed since Chicago selected him first overall in 2024.
Team officials had described his status as week-to-week after imaging earlier in the week. Head coach Ben Johnson called the initial test results “somewhat encouraging” and declined to attach a firm timetable.
“Here’s what I know,” Johnson said. “This guy’s a little bit different than the average human being. I said that last night, I’ll double down on that. He gets back — he has in the past — a lot faster than what people can anticipate, and so I’m not putting a timeline on this. We’re going to say week-to-week. He’s going to attack this with everything that he knows.”
People close to the situation say Williams is known around the organization as a quick healer and hopes to beat the standard recovery window. The three-to-four-week estimate reflects how long this type of strain usually lasts for most players, not a guaranteed absence.
Chicago did not place Williams on injured reserve, which keeps open the possibility of an earlier return. If he misses three games, he would sit out matchups against the Eagles, New York Jets and Green Bay Packers before a potential Week 6 date at Atlanta.
The injury complicates an already thin quarterback room. Backup Tyson Bagent entered concussion protocol after the Vikings game and remained listed as questionable Saturday even after a full practice.
Veteran Case Keenum, 38, took first-team snaps last week and could start Monday if Bagent is not cleared. Keenum has not started an NFL game since 2023 with the Houston Texans.
Johnson said Saturday the team was still sorting out its depth chart for the Eagles. He noted the two available quarterbacks bring different skill sets but both are prepared mentally.
Williams injured the same hamstring in college. Some around the team believe last week’s pain may have involved scar tissue rather than a new tear that would create longer-term problems.
The Bears are 1-1 after an opening win and the low-scoring loss to Minnesota. Losing their starting quarterback for multiple weeks would test an offense that has relied on Williams’ mobility and improvisation.
Johnson has emphasized that Williams will push his rehabilitation as hard as possible. The coach has repeatedly described the third-year quarterback as someone who recovers faster than expected.
Chicago’s next three games after Monday include a home date with the Jets and a trip to Lambeau Field. A Thursday night game against New England in Week 7 would follow if Williams remains out that long.
The organization has tried to keep specifics of the injury quiet for competitive reasons. The latest reporting from league sources provided the first public grade and estimated recovery range.
Williams was a full participant in training camp and the preseason after an offseason spent refining his mechanics. The hamstring issue is the first significant setback of his young professional career.
Bears trainers will monitor swelling and strength in the coming days. How quickly Williams can resume running and cutting will determine whether he can shorten the typical timetable.
The team’s immediate focus remains Monday night at Soldier Field, where either Bagent or Keenum will try to keep Chicago competitive against a 2-0 Eagles squad.
