2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$1,967+70.3%1W−16%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $4,953
AGE24Nov 18, 2001
EXP2 yrssince 2024
HEIGHT6'1"
Williams (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Green Bay but isn't expected to suit up, is "pushing to play" in Week 6 against the Falcons, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Back on Monday, head coach Ben Johnson announced that Tyson Bagent would start against the Packers, but the Bears elected not to rule Williams out for Week 5 entirely. Williams -- who has missed the Bears' last two games due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain -- made a surprise return to practice Friday as a limited participant before he was given a questionable tag heading into the weekend. While he still isn't expected to be anything more than an emergency No. 3 quarterback behind Bagent and Case Keenum in Week 5, Williams' return to practice gives him a decent shot at returning to the starting role against Atlanta next week.
Williams (hamstring) is listed as inactive Sunday in Green Bay.
Despite his standing this weekend, Williams appears to be trending in the right direction after being limited at Friday's practice and entering the weekend listed as questionable for Week 5 action. He'll miss his third game in a row due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Williams is aiming to return in Week 6 versus the Falcons, and he even put in a pregame workout before this Sunday's game, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tyson Bagent again will get the start in place of Williams, with Case Keenum backing him up.
Everyone sharing the ball with Caleb, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Williams (hamstring) has made tangible progress in his recovery from a Grade 2 hamstring strain sustained in the Week 2 loss to the Vikings, Dan Wiederer of The Athletic reports.
Williams has yet to resume practicing with his teammates, but he has reportedly looked comfortable dropping back, planting and throwing the ball. Head coach Ben Johnson said Monday that Williams remains week-to-week and won't return to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Packers, paving the way for Tyson Bagent to make a second consecutive start. Williams could be an option under center for the Bears as soon as Week 6 against the Falcons, though his return to game action would be precipitated by a successful return to practice without setbacks.
Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
With Williams set to miss a second straight contest due to his hamstring issue, Chicago will once again turn to either Case Keenum or Tyson Bagent under center against New York. Keenum played well in Monday night's win over the Eagles, but Bagent has a real chance to get the start for Week 4.
Williams (hamstring) remained a non-participant at practice Thursday.
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Coach Ben Johnson said Williams is "getting better every singly day" but won't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.
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Williams, who is ruled out for Monday's game against the Eagles, has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, which doctors consider a 3-to-4-week injury, Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport of ESPN report.
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Williams (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Eagles.
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Williams (hamstring) will not participate in Saturday's practice, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Suns-Times reports.
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Williams (hamstring) was a non-participant at Friday's practice.
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Williams (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's estimated practice report.
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Coach Ben Johnson said Williams (hamstring) won't take part in Wednesday's practice, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that he doesn't anticipate Williams (hamstring) practicing in Week 3, though Johnson was unwilling to officially rule out the quarterback from playing Monday against the Eagles, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Monday that Williams' right hamstring injury is likely "gonna be a week-to-week deal," Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
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Williams was cleared of a major injury to his right hamstring after undergoing tests Monday, and the Bears haven't ruled him out from playing in their Week 3 game against the Eagles, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.
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Williams will undergo imaging on his right hamstring Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
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Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns while carrying the ball 10 times for 65 yards and two more TDs in Sunday's 59-37 win over the Panthers.
In the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, Williams led the Bears on nine separate scoring drives, tossing TDs to Cole Kmet in the second quarter and Jahdae Walker in the fourth, while adding rushing scores of his own in the first and second quarters. The third-year QB produced a career-high 30 touchdowns in 2025, 27 through the air and three on the ground, but he may be poised to shatter that mark in 2026. Williams will likely face a tougher test at home in Week 2 against the Vikings.
Williams became the first player in Bears history to record at least 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the same game during Sunday's 59-37 win over the Panthers, Dan Parr of NFL.com reports.
Williams entered the franchise record books in the season-opening win while leading the offense to a whopping 59 points. The first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has established himself as one of the league's premier dual-threat quarterbacks under head coach Ben Johnson.
Coach Ben Johnson lauded Williams' approach Tuesday as the quarterback enters his third NFL campaign, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports. "He's executing at a much higher clip than he ever has, and I think it's going to continue to grow," Johnson said. "He's going to continue to elevate everyone around him, coaches included."
Williams played just one possession during exhibition season, leading the Bears to a Cairo Santos field goal to kick off preseason Week 2 at Cincinnati. The performance (2-for-5 passing for 28 yards, no TDs and no interceptions) was nothing to write home about, but Williams is set to take another step forward in his development in 2026. There are two question marks within Chicago's skill positions as Week 1 approaches: RB Kyle Monangai is attempting to put a hyperextended knee behind him, while WR Luther Burden is continuing his recovery from an early August groin injury. Having said that, Williams still has the healthy trio of RB D'Andre Swift, WR Rome Odunze and TE Colston Loveland at his services, so the QB's first 4,000-yard season through the air may be on the horizon.
The QBs priced immediately above and below him.
