Caleb Williams Eyes Week 5 Return as Bears Regroup After Sloppy Loss to Vikings
The short version
- Caleb Williams avoided a season-ending Achilles injury and could return by Week 5 against Green Bay.
- The Bears lost to the Vikings in rainy conditions in Week 2 after scoring 59 points in Week 1.
- Rookie defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad have played well in early NFL action.
- Center Garrett Bradbury struggled in the wet conditions against Minnesota.
Chicago's quarterback avoided a season-ending injury and could be back for the Green Bay game, while the team sorts through mixed rookie results after a rain-soaked defeat.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is facing a condensed rehabilitation timeline after an injury scare that briefly raised fears of a torn Achilles, according to a midweek report from Yahoo Sports. The outlook has improved enough that a return by the Week 5 game against the Green Bay Packers is considered possible.
The injury occurred during a difficult Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field played in wet conditions. Williams was injured on a drive that had appeared headed for a touchdown before Chicago settled for a field goal attempt that was blocked from 23 yards. The Bears also lost a fumble at the goal line on another scoring drive, leaving points off the board in a game decided by field position.
The defeat followed a season-opening 59-point performance in Week 1 under head coach Ben Johnson, which had fueled early talk of challenging the NFL single-season scoring record of 606 points set by the Denver Broncos. Chicago had won its opener behind that offensive outburst.
Among the positives, rookie defensive backs Dillon Thieneman, a first-round pick, and Malik Muhammad have drawn praise for their early play in their first NFL action. The results elsewhere in the draft class have been mixed, with Sam Roush struggling in Week 2 and Zavion Thomas seeing limited snaps. Veteran center Garrett Bradbury had a difficult game against the Vikings, with the wet conditions affecting snaps and footing, while cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Jaylon Johnson were credited with bounce-back performances after a rough opener.
