Surgeon Warns Bears' Caleb Williams Risks Reinjury if He Returns Too Soon From Hamstring Injury

Chicago Bears star quarterback Caleb Williams is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, but a medical expert suggests he may benefit from additional rest. Dr. Drew Burdi, a former college football player and now a foot and ankle surgeon, expressed concern that Williams could reinjure his hamstring if he returns to play before it is fully healed.

"I think he could reinjure it," Burdi told OutKick. "I had, when I was playing, I had a hamstring, I pulled my hamstring. It felt the same way. I remember looking around, I was running and I felt like somebody came up and hit me in the back of my leg, and then I realized there was no one around me, and I knew exactly what happened."

Burdi explained that a pulled hamstring is a partial tear, and if not given adequate time to recover, it becomes more vulnerable to re-tearing. "Then that just puts stress on other parts of the body, you could be running differently. It can put him in a compromising positions that he just normally wouldn't be in when he's 100%," he added.

Williams himself described the injury as "pretty serious" and recalled feeling a distinct pop when it occurred. "I felt a pop," Williams said. "That's why I looked back. I looked back just like everybody else does when you feel a pop. Think somebody grabbed you and nobody grabbed me."

Despite his injury status, Williams' absence has not resulted in significant losses for the Bears. The team has achieved a 2-1 record in his absence, securing wins against the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets, with a loss to the Green Bay Packers. If the Bears proceed cautiously with Williams for another week and lose to the Falcons, they would still maintain a .500 record over the past month without their starting quarterback.

Burdi advised that if Williams has any lingering doubts or does not feel 100% recovered, he should prioritize sitting out an additional week. "'Cause they really look good (without him), except for the Packers (game). But I mean, without that game, I don't know. I'd probably say take more time because I think that they could. It depends on their schedule too. If their schedule is good enough where they can get out of it at .500 and have him come back healthy, I think it's better than trying to push himself, win a game, maybe this week, but then he injures it further, and then he might be out longer. It's one of those injuries where you can try to push it, but you really have to know yourself. If it feels like you're still not 100%, it's probably worth just holding off on it," Burdi stated.