The alarms sounded off in Chicago in Week 2 as Williams fell to the ground with a non-contact injury during the Bears’ 9-3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. After watching Williams exit the field on a medical cart, weeping and emotional, fans in Windy City braced for the worst-case scenario. However, Williams’ injury update was better than the Bears imagined.

“Williams, ruled out for Monday’s game against the Eagles, has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, which doctors consider a three-to-four-week injury,” as reported by Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.

Who is replacing Williams as Bears’ QB1?

As the former Heisman Trophy winner recovers from his hamstring injury, the Bears will roll with veteran quarterback Case Keenum under center. Keenum makes for one of the most intriguing storylines in the first month of the 2026 NFL season.

Keenum’s last NFL game was on Dec. 24, 2023, when he played for the Houston Texans. Three years later, he will enter a primetime showdown against a merciless Eagles defense, filling in for Williams, who had looked like an early MVP candidate before going down with an injury in his first game of the season at Soldier Field.

Bears face challenges without Williams

With Williams expected to miss at least three games in the 2026 NFL season, Ben Johnson’s explosive Bears offense will be put to the ultimate test. After erupting for 59 points and eight touchdowns in Week 1, the Bears were stopped in their tracks by Brian Flores’ Vikings defense at home in Week 2. Without Williams, it’s a mystery which version the home fans in Chi-city will get when the Eagles pay them a visit.

Clearly, the Bears must establish the ground game, and that could hinge on the hands of D’Andre Swift, who will be facing his former NFL club. Swift rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown last season in his revenge game in the City of Brotherly Love. Behind Swift, the Bears have another talented back in Kyle Monangai, so they should be able to wreak havoc on the ground.

However, that’s way easier said than done, especially against a stacked defensive line and a defense that will be expecting plenty of rushing plays with the Bears’ quarterback being a 38-year-old with no starts since Christmas 2023.

Key takeaways

• Caleb Williams will miss the Bears’ Week 3 matchup with a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
• Veteran Case Keenum will start under center against the Philadelphia Eagles in his place.
• The starting quarterback’s injury is expected to keep him sidelined for three to four weeks.

This is a massive sigh of relief. The Bears feared the worst after seeing Williams go down with a non-contact injury. The screams and reaction by the quarterback were all uninspiring. Now, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, it’s the best-case scenario for all parties involved.

While Week 2 wasn’t kind to Williams, this is incredibly good news. The Bears lost against the Minnesota Vikings and scored just three points. Given that the injury occurred in the fourth quarter, it’s not like Williams’ injury was the catalyst for a bad offensive performance.

Ben Johnson must make the offense look good in Week 3 vs Eagles

After promising that the Bears would have the best offense in NFL history and putting 59 points in Week 1, you cannot put up a dud in Week 2 with just a field goal on the scoreboard. Of course, critics came crashing on the Bears.

Therefore, Williams and Johnson need a bounce back week. Williams, though, must recover rapidly if he wants to play in Week 3 vs Eagles. If not, Tyson Bagent will be under center, and the task to score points will be way more difficult.

The Eagles haven’t been precisely elite either

The Eagles are 2-0 but if Caleb Williams is able to suit up, the Bears should be confident in maybe winning this game. Philadelphia barely escaped the Tennessee Titans in Week 2 and struggled to beat the Washington Commanders.

The Bears are a more capable team than both the Commanders and Titans. The fact of the matter is that at full strength, both of the teams are playoff-caliber franchises. The game will be in Chicago so that might aid the Bears.

Key takeaways

• Caleb Williams avoided major injury after suffering a non-contact hamstring strain in Week 2.
• The Chicago offense managed to score just three points in their loss to Minnesota.
• Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent will step in if the starter misses Week 3.

Williams immediately appeared to be in significant pain and was attended to by the Bears’ medical staff before being helped off the field. He was eventually taken to the locker room, bringing his afternoon to an early end as Chicago tried to rally against Minnesota.

The Bears have not yet revealed the severity of the hamstring injury or how much time Williams could miss. Head coach Ben Johnson said the team will know more after further evaluation, making the coming days important for determining the quarterback’s status for Week 3.

Caleb Williams remains positive after suffering hamstring injury

Despite the concerning scene at Soldier Field, Williams reportedly remains positive about his recovery. Mike Florio reported that the Bears quarterback is in good spirits as he prepares to begin the recovery process.

“Bears quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a right hamstring injury while scrambling in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. And while he was in significant pain after it happened, we’re told that he seems to be in ‘good spirits’ about attacking the recovery process.”

That positive outlook is encouraging for Chicago, but the Bears still need to determine the extent of the injury before establishing a timetable. Johnson acknowledged after the game that his first concern was Williams’ knee, and he was relieved that the injury appeared to involve the hamstring instead.

Williams finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 138 yards and also rushed for 42 yards before leaving. Tyson Bagent replaced him for the final minutes, and the Bears ultimately fell 9-3 to Minnesota.

The Bears now have more than a week before their next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Williams some time to undergo additional testing and begin his recovery. For now, Chicago will wait for more information before determining whether its starting quarterback will be available in Week 3.

Williams had been on the field for most of the afternoon before exiting late in the game. The Bears have confirmed it’s a hamstring injury and the severity remains subject to further evaluation.

The timing of the injury makes it particularly notable for Chicago, as Williams was trying to lead the Bears through another NFC North matchup after an impressive performance in the team’s season opener. More information should become available after the quarterback is evaluated by the team’s medical staff.

What happened to Caleb Williams?

Caleb Williams suffered a right hamstring injury during the fourth quarter and ultimately left the game with approximately seven minutes remaining. The Bears provided that initial diagnosis as the QB was carted off the field.

The Bears will likely provide an update on the severity of Williams’ injury after the game, when the quarterback can undergo a more thorough evaluation. Until that happens, it is too early to determine whether the injury could affect his availability for Chicago’s Week 3 matchup.

For now, the biggest concern is simply determining the extent of the injury. Williams’ status will be something to monitor closely in the coming days, particularly if the Bears’ medical evaluation confirms a significant muscular problem.

However, fans will not get to see either of the quarterbacks who sit at the center of those ambitions. Caleb Williams will not play for Chicago, while Joe Burrow will also remain on the sideline for Cincinnati as both coaching staffs prioritize the regular season over preseason evaluation.

For the Bears, head coach Ben Johnson has decided not to expose Williams to unnecessary contact. The Bengals have taken an equally cautious approach with Burrow, with Zac Taylor opting to keep his franchise quarterback out of the remaining preseason games.

Why isn’t Caleb Williams playing for the Bears?

Caleb Williams’ absence is a decision made by Ben Johnson rather than a sign of a new injury concern. The Bears already know what their starting quarterback can do, and there is little benefit in putting their young star at risk in a preseason game.

Chicago’s coaching staff can instead use the matchup to evaluate the quarterbacks fighting for depth-chart positions. Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Miller Moss are expected to handle the quarterback duties as they continue competing for opportunities and roster spots. Bagent was sidelined during the team’s preparation for the game, which could create additional work for Keenum and Moss.

Why isn’t Joe Burrow playing for the Bengals?

Joe Burrow will also watch from the sideline, and Taylor has already made the decision that Cincinnati’s starters will not play in either of the team’s final two preseason games. That means Burrow will not see action against Chicago as the Bengals turn their attention toward preparing for the regular season.

The Bengals have plenty of reasons to be cautious with their franchise quarterback. Burrow missed much of the 2025 season after suffering a significant toe injury that required surgery, eventually returning late in the year. With Cincinnati hoping to compete for the Super Bowl, exposing him to unnecessary preseason contact would offer very little reward.

Taylor is also trying to avoid another slow start to the regular season, but that does not mean the Bengals need Burrow to play in August. The coaching staff can address timing, execution and preparation through practices while allowing the veteran quarterback to enter the regular season healthy.

Who will play quarterback for the Bears and Bengals?

With Williams unavailable, the Bears will rely on their backup options. Bagent, Keenum and Moss all have something to prove, making the game particularly important for players trying to secure their place on the final roster.

Keenum brings extensive NFL experience, while Bagent has already shown that he can operate Chicago’s offense in regular-season situations. Moss, meanwhile, is looking to make an impression as he competes for a place on the roster. Chicago’s 2026 preseason opener already showed the value of that depth, with Keenum throwing for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 34-10 win over Cleveland.

Cincinnati will turn to Josh Johnson and veteran Joe Flacco. Flacco’s continued presence in the NFL remains one of the league’s more remarkable stories, and the 41-year-old quarterback continues to compete for opportunities despite having already enjoyed a lengthy career.

The reason is simple. Ben Johnson, the Bears head coach, has opted to rest Caleb Williams and multiple other starters for this game vs. Browns. Johnson’s approach is to prioritize practice volume and health for the stars of the team. As for the Browns, will Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders play vs. Bears?

Hence, Tyson Bagent is likely to start vs. Browns, though veterans like Case Keenum could also see some snaps. The Bears also have rookie Miller Moss, who could try to impress after going undrafted.

Caleb Williams’ spot on the Bears is secured

In the Browns’ case, Watson and Sanders are battling it out to see who’s the starter come regular season. For the Bears, this is not the case as Williams is firmly established as the QB1 of the team.

In 2025, Williams had 3,942 passing yards, alongside 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, his big debt is to improve his completion percentage, which was only a 58.1% last year. Williams also helped in the running game, adding 388 yards and three touchdowns with his legs.

Bears’ preseason schedule

The Bears will face three AFC opponents during their preseason and two of them will be away from home. After a Soldier Field debut, they’ll travel to Cincinnati and then to Tennessee to finish their preseason endeavors.

“Bears wide receiver Luther Burden, who suffered a groin injury Saturday, is currently expected to miss about a month, sources tell,” the reporter revealed on X. “The hope is that he’ll be back and available for Chicago’s season opener vs. the Panthers, per sources.”

DJ Moore’s departure to the Buffalo Bills opened the door for Burden to become one of the Bears’ primary weapons in the passing game alongside Rome Odunze. Ben Johnson hopes to have him at full strength as Chicago looks to become a contender in the NFC North once again.

The Williams-Burden connection

After being selected by the Bears with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Luther Burden quickly established strong chemistry with his quarterback. Operating largely out of the slot and displaying elite yards-after-catch ability, Burden posted impressive efficiency numbers while hauling in nearly 78% of his targets.

In his 2025 rookie season, Burden recorded 47 receptions on 60 targets for 652 receiving yards (13.9 yards per catch) and 2 receiving touchdowns across 15 games (5 starts), complemented by 6 rushing attempts for 37 yards, thus becoming an important weapon for Caleb Williams.

The confidence placed in Burden

It is clear that Burden’s injury could become a major headache for the Bears. Ben Johnson knows this season could be a pivotal one for the wide receiver, whom he sees as a player with many similarities to the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, he plays the game the same way. I feel that from Luther,” Johnson said recently to the press. “He wasn’t a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he’s got that competitive edge and desire to be great, and it’s carried over into the spring and summer as well.

“He’s been a regular in our building, working with our strength staff. He wants to be the most conditioned player on the team. wants to be one of the strongest receivers on the team and just continues to soak in all the knowledge.”

Which games will Burden miss?

The Chicago Bears have three preseason games ahead of them, which will serve as preparation for their big Week 1 debut against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

• vs Cleveland Browns, August 15
• at Cincinnati Bengals, August 22
• at Tennessee Titans, August 28

With quarterback Caleb Williams emerging as one of the league’s brightest young stars, the Bears have become one of the NFL’s most talked-about teams. Williams has been featured prominently throughout the offseason, drawing national attention as Chicago prepares for another season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

That growing spotlight became part of an interesting discussion this week after Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen joked that motivating his own players is easy because all the attention seems to be focused on Williams and the Bears.

Ben Johnson responds to Liam Coen’s comments

Liam Coen joked that he barely sees anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars whenever he visits the NFL’s official platforms. “I look at the NFL website, and see if there’s anything on the Jaguars. I think I’ll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams. And nothing on us! It’s beautiful.”

Ben Johnson was asked about those comments and responded with a surprising level of honesty. “Well, we’re the No. 1 regression candidate, so I think we’ve got plenty of motivation ourselves. We’ve talked about Caleb in the past. He’s used to handling a lot of attention, so I’m not worried about that.”

Rather than dismissing the criticism or the attention surrounding his quarterback, Johnson acknowledged that expectations have dramatically increased after Chicago’s breakout season.

Bears embracing Super Bowl expectations

Ben Johnson’s comments reflect the reality facing the Bears entering 2026. They’re no longer viewed as an up-and-coming team. After winning the NFC North and reaching the playoffs, the Bears are expected to contend for a Super Bowl, placing a different kind of pressure on Williams and the rest of the roster.

For Johnson, however, that pressure can be used as motivation. Instead of worrying about the spotlight surrounding his young quarterback, the Bears head coach believes the biggest challenge will be proving last season was only the beginning rather than a one-year breakthrough.

Johnson, widely recognized as one of the NFL’s premier offensive minds, unlocked Williams’ potential in their first season together. Williams set a Bears single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, throwing 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Now entering Year 2 of the system, Williams notes that faster pre-snap reads and increased operational comfort will allow Chicago to play with more dominance while minimizing unnecessary risks.

“It’s gonna be really exciting. It’s gonna be really fun to watch. It’s going to be more entertaining than last year,” Williams said on Tuesday. “Hopefully not as much of a heart race. It’s gonna be a little more entertaining throughout the whole game. You can feel it. You can see it. The confidence … It’s all three [phases] combined.”

Reimagining the passing game

Despite receiver DJ Moore departing for the Buffalo Bills during the offseason, Chicago’s offense remains formidable.

Rome Odunze steps seamlessly into the WR1 role after showing star flashes during his second year. Beside him, sophomore Luther Burden III—who surged in the second half of 2025—and veteran Kalif Raymond provide reliable speed and route diversity.

Fortunately for Williams, Ben Johnson’s offensive philosophy is famously versatile. The system spreads targets dynamic across all position groups rather than leaning on a single dominant target:

• Tight ends as focal points: Cole Kmet and second-year standout Colston Loveland form one of the league’s most dangerous two-tight-end duos, posing constant matchup problems over the middle.
• Backfield and offensive line involvement: Creative play-calling frequently involves running backs on wheel routes and screen plays, alongside tackle-eligible and trick plays that keep opposing defenses off-balance.

By distributing the ball across multiple weapons, Chicago ensures no single player bears the entire offensive burden, creating a unpredictable scheme heading into the 2026 campaign.

“I mean, Brady. When you go seven Super Bowls it’s hard to…there’s not anybody close. And so it gets hard to debate that. I put Brady as number one, and for me, Aaron Rodgers is probably number two.”

Williams’ answer immediately drew attention across the NFL because of the second name on his list. While few would be surprised to see Tom Brady at the top, Williams’ decision to rank Aaron Rodgers as the second-best quarterback ever is particularly noteworthy given the history between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

Who is the greatest QB of all time?

Tom Brady is the greatest QB of all time according to Caleb Williams, but, Aaron Rodgers got a tremendous recognition from the Bears’ star. For more than a decade, Rodgers tormented the Bears while establishing himself as one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. As a result, many Chicago fans still associate him with some of the franchise’s most frustrating moments.

That makes Williams’ praise especially significant. Rather than letting the rivalry influence his opinion, the Bears quarterback openly acknowledged Rodgers’ greatness and placed him ahead of numerous legendary passers.

The timing is also interesting because Rodgers is preparing for what is expected to be his final NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As one generation of quarterbacks begins to take over the league, Williams made it clear that he still views Rodgers as one of the defining players in NFL history.

For months, the Bears have explored alternatives to remain competitive off the field while building a long-term home for the organization. Indiana emerged as a serious option because of its willingness to support a major stadium development project and the economic opportunities that could follow.

Now, with the Bears taking a significant step toward making the move a reality, Indiana officials are openly embracing the possibility of welcoming one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises.

Indiana could be the new home of the Bears

Indiana Governor Mike Braun released a statement following the Bears’ vote and made it clear that state leaders view the project as a transformative opportunity for the region.

“Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality. Welcome to Indiana!”

The statement is notable because it goes beyond simply expressing support. Braun’s comments suggest Indiana officials are already treating the project as a realistic outcome and are eager to highlight the economic benefits that could accompany the arrival of an NFL franchise.

While questions remain about timelines and final approvals, the Bears’ vote and Braun’s enthusiastic response have reinforced the growing belief that the organization may be preparing to begin a historic new chapter outside Illinois after more than a century of history in the state.