By Salem Chicago News Staff
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears lost quarterback Caleb Williams to a hamstring injury and fell to the Minnesota Vikings 9-3 in a rain-soaked defensive struggle Sunday at Soldier Field.
The defeat drops the Bears to 1-1 on the season and raises immediate questions about the health of their franchise quarterback heading into a Monday night home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Williams was injured midway through the fourth quarter when he scrambled to his left on first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. He slid to the ground without being touched, was helped to the sideline and then carted to the locker room. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards with one interception before exiting.
Three plays after Williams left, kicker Cairo Santos’ potential game-tying 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Isaiah Rodgers with 6:21 remaining.
“I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “That was my first inclination. But the hamstring could be pretty damaging as well. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”
Johnson said he had spoken with Williams after the game and that the quarterback was “in good spirits.”
Backup Tyson Bagent nearly engineered a late rally, completing four passes for 53 yards to move the Bears to the Minnesota 12-yard line. But on fourth-and-2 with one second remaining, Bagent was sacked by edge rusher Dallas Turner to end the game.
The two teams had combined for 98 points in their season-opening wins a week earlier, the most in Week 1 by Week 2 opponents in NFL history. Sunday’s contest produced no touchdowns from either side.
“The weather was a major factor in this game,” Johnson said. “Both defensive coordinators did a great job making it very challenging for the opposing offense.”
The Bears defense bounced back after surrendering 39 points to the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The unit held the Vikings to 246 total yards, 11 first downs and a 23.1 percent third-down conversion rate.
“Proud of how our defense played throughout that game,” Johnson said. “I thought they really competed their tails off and kept us in it for the most part.”
Minnesota’s scoring came entirely from kicker Will Reichard, who connected on field goals of 35, 49 and 39 yards.
Santos opened the Bears’ scoring with a 50-yard field goal after Williams avoided multiple defenders on a scramble. Holder Tory Taylor pulled down a high snap to make the kick possible.
The Bears drove to the Vikings’ 1-yard line to open the second half, but defensive lineman Jalen Redmond forced a D’Andre Swift fumble that Rodgers recovered. Chicago committed eight penalties for 58 yards in the game and failed to score on possessions reaching the Minnesota 1, 5 and 12.
“We had some points in the bag, I thought,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to make sure we capitalize on every opportunity we get when you face a good defense like that.”
Chicago rushed for 134 yards on 31 carries. Kyle Monangai led the way with 47 yards on 10 attempts, Swift added 45 yards on 16 carries and Williams contributed 42 yards on five runs before his injury.
The Bears host the Eagles on Monday night at Soldier Field. Johnson said more information about the severity of Williams’ hamstring injury would be available Monday.
Source: Chicago Bears
