Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sidelined 3-4 weeks with hamstring strain
Caleb Williams has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that is expected to keep him out for three to four weeks, causing him to miss the upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Eagles.
Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears' 24-year-old quarterback, suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during a running play in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Medical staff carted him off the field after he collapsed in pain. The injury is classified as a moderate strain, typically requiring three to eight weeks for full recovery, according to Princeton Sports & Family Medicine.
The Bears announced that Williams will miss the Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles and may be unavailable for several additional weeks. The team had initially listed him as a week-to-week option, but the diagnosis suggests a longer absence.
Coach Ben Johnson praised Williams' past recovery speed, saying, > "This guy's a little bit different than the average human being. 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."
Historical examples of similar injuries include wide receiver A.J. Green in 2016, who missed the remainder of the season after a Grade 2 hamstring strain, and linebacker Patrick Willis in 2011, who missed three games. The Bears' schedule now lists upcoming opponents: the Eagles in Week 3, the New York Jets in Week 4, the Green Bay Packers in Week 5, and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.