Bears’ Ben Johnson keeps it cryptic on Caleb Williams, QB situation for Week 4 vs. Jets

Caleb Williams has not missed a game since the Chicago Bears selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, an unfortunate hamstring injury has now put the quarterback's availability in question, while head coach Ben Johnson has remained cautious and somewhat vague when discussing the status of his star signal-caller.

The Bears are set to host the New York Jets in Week 4. According to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, Williams will not participate in Wednesday's walkthrough , Johnson confirmed, though the coach noted that the quarterback is "getting better every single day." Fishbain also reported that the Bears have not made a decision regarding their starting quarterback.

Williams suffered a non-contact hamstring injury while scrambling during the fourth quarter of Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings . The injury forced him to leave the field on a cart and immediately raised concerns about his availability moving forward.

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Medical evaluations later confirmed that Williams suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He was subsequently ruled out for Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles , ending the first stretch of his NFL career in which he had started 36 consecutive regular-season games.

Before the injury, Williams had also become the first Bears quarterback to start every game in consecutive seasons since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

Doctors initially projected a recovery period of approximately three to four weeks, putting Williams' potential return around the middle of October. That timeline means the Bears are likely to remain cautious as they determine when their franchise quarterback is ready to return.

Before suffering the injury, Williams had gotten off to a promising start under Johnson. Across his first two starts, he completed 32 of 55 pass attempts for 407 yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception.

However, for now, his status remains a week-to-week situation as the Bears' medical staff continues monitoring his recovery and progress toward a full return.