The Bears will go a third straight game without starting quarterback Caleb Williams on Sunday, but he is progressing toward returning from a hamstring injury. The third-year signal-caller is “pushing” to get back in the lineup in Week 6, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network says.
Williams was carted off with what looked like a major injury in the Bears’ Week 2 loss to the Vikings, but it turned out to be a Grade 2 strain. After No. 2 QB Tyson Bagent spent time in the concussion protocol ahead of a Week 3 matchup with the Eagles, head coach Ben Johnson turned to third-stringer Case Keenum to fill in for Williams. Although Keenum shined in a 27-7 win over Philadelphia, he only played one snap in a 23-12 victory against the Jets last Sunday.
Because Johnson sent Keenum out as the Bears’ QB on their first play in Week 4, he was credited with a start and given the win. Bagent was also technically a starter, though he lined up at receiver on that play. After he took over for Keenum, Bagent went 25 of 34 for 268 yards and an interception. It was the most extensive action for Bagent since he logged four starts as an undrafted rookie in 2023. Williams then arrived as the No. 1 overall pick the next year and made 34 straight starts from 2024-25. Bagent attempted just six passes in seven appearances during that span.
Despite a limited track record, Bagent has drawn trade interest. The Bears, who gave him a two-year, $10MM extension in August 2025, have been content to keep him. They are not expected to move Bagent before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, according to Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports. For his part, Bagent is “happy with his present situation,” Pauline writes.
Bagent will try to take advantage of his opportunity to play on Sunday and guide the Bears to 3-0 without Williams and 4-1 overall. A Bears victory would put significant space between the reigning NFC North champions and the archrival Packers, who would drop to 2-3 and 0-2 in the division. Those two teams and the 2-2 Lions are looking up at the division-leading Vikings (4-0).
After returning to practice on a limited basis on Friday, Williams got some work in at Lambeau Field on Sunday morning (video via Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports). It appears he could be back at the helm when Chicago travels to Atlanta to face the suddenly high-flying Falcons next week.