Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but there is optimism that the injury is not severe.
On NBC's broadcast of "Sunday Night Football," Mike Florio reported that the injury could be a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the mildest form. Florio added that Williams is in good spirits regarding his recovery. Williams had a previous hamstring injury at USC, meaning he is familiar with the rehabilitation process.
Williams exited the game in the fourth quarter after appearing to injure his right leg while scrambling. He was seen grabbing his leg in pain and was carted to the locker room. Despite the visible distress, he offered a thumbs-up to fans as he neared the tunnel.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson expressed relief that the injury did not appear to involve the knee, though he acknowledged the potential severity of a hamstring issue. "We'll see how bad it is tomorrow, and we'll go from there," Johnson said postgame.
Further reports indicated that Williams was able to walk under his own power in the locker room without crutches.
Before leaving the game, Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards and threw one interception. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent replaced him and nearly led a comeback, but was sacked on the final play of the 9-3 loss. If Williams is sidelined, Bagent, who holds a 2-2 record as a starter from four starts in 2023, would step in.
