By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons after participating fully in Friday’s practice while recovering from a hamstring injury.
The third-year quarterback has missed three consecutive games since suffering a right hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Williams must pass a series of on-field movement tests before the coaching staff clears him to start.
“He looked good yesterday for one practice, but we’ve got to be able to stack a few back-to-back,” coach Ben Johnson said Friday before practice, according to the team’s website. “He went through his own throwing session beforehand — part of the plan — and he’s on track right now.”
Williams told reporters Thursday that he recently hit one of the highest speeds of his career during conditioning work. He acknowledged, however, that game intensity presents a different challenge.
“It probably is a little bit different intensity, and yet that’s what we’re trying to work through here over the course of the week,” Johnson said, according to the team’s website. “Once again, we’re right on track with the plan and we’ll see what it looks like, see how he feels.”
Johnson declined to name a starter if Williams cannot play, saying the Bears have “two guys that are equally qualified” in backup quarterbacks Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum. Bagent started the team’s most recent game, a 31-7 loss in Green Bay, and also led the Bears to a 23-12 win over the New York Jets the week before.
Cornerback Kyler Gordon also practiced fully all week and is listed as questionable. Gordon has been on the physically unable to perform list since before training camp because of a calf injury. The Bears must activate him by next week.
“He’s done a great job taking everything that we’ve assigned him so far,” Johnson said of Gordon. “I do feel good about him being able to contribute to this team and help us out.”
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is questionable with a hip injury sustained last weekend in Green Bay that limited him throughout the week.
The Bears ruled out four players for Sunday: running back Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe), defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (quadriceps) and linebackers T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and Keyshaun Elliott (quadriceps). Monangai will miss his second straight game.
Without Edwards, the defense will operate without its primary play-caller. Johnson compared the adjustment to the offense’s recent transition among quarterbacks.
Chicago will also be without its two starting defensive ends. Montez Sweat is serving a two-game suspension from the NFL. However, defensive lineman Shemar Turner, a 2025 second-round pick, was activated Tuesday from the physically unable to perform list after tearing his ACL in Week 8 of last season and could make his season debut.
“What showed up in his college tape was the violence with which he played,” Johnson said of Turner, according to the team’s website. “He’s got an aggressive demeanor about him.”
Offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo also could be active for the first time this season after recovering from a knee injury suffered during last year’s wild card playoff win over Green Bay.
The Bears, who are 3-2, kick off against the Falcons at noon CT Sunday in Atlanta.
