LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Caleb Williams is – almost – back.
Three days after Williams went through an extensive pregame workout in Green Bay, coach Ben Johnson said the Bears starting quarterback would be listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
What happens Thursday and Friday, though, will be more telling and important when it comes to Williams’ progress. Wednesday included just a walk-through practice. The Bears’ official injury report is just an estimation.
As Johnson said, the Bears’ quarterback situation for Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons remains “fluid.”
“But I feel good about the plan that we have in place at this point,” he said.
The signs are still there that Williams’ return is imminent, though.
It was evident that Williams was going through on-the-field workouts behind the scenes at Halas Hall prior to the Bears’ trip to Lambeau Field. What he did before the Packers game was just the next step. His workout seemed to be a test full of different passes, drops and rollouts.
The schedule does provide the Bears with more to consider with Williams. After Atlanta, the Bears’ next game is Thursday night against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field.
So the Bears have two games in five days.
“In regards to the quarterback situation, a lot of things have gone through our minds,” Johnson said. “First and foremost, health is the No. 1 priority for all three guys. I don’t know that any of them are exactly 100 percent at this point in the season. That’s something that we certainly look at. We want whoever is out there to have a good rapport with the offensive line, with the operation, with our pass catchers. So, we want to make sure that we can get in a rhythm, which we weren’t able to do last week as an offense. So, sure. It all goes into account here. What do we need to do first and foremost for this week? And then a big-picture view.”
The three-week picture is daunting. The Bears face the Falcons and Patriots before a Monday Night Football matchup against the Seahawks in Seattle. They need Williams more than ever – especially with all the injuries on defense.
Johnson said that defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo will miss “some time” with his quad injury, while linebacker T.J. Edwards is week-to-week with another hamstring issue. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s hamstring injury is less severe but defensive end Montez Sweat is still out two weeks because of his suspension.
The Bears have gone 2-1 without Williams and with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum under center. That’s a positive regardless of how ugly the Bears’ 31-7 loss was to the Packers.
“I put our struggles on myself more than anything else from the game the other day,” Johnson said. “I have to do a better job making sure we get in a rhythm on offense, regardless of who’s playing the quarterback position.”
But it helps to have your No. 1 quarterback in the game. The humbling defeat with Bagent at quarterback in Green Bay showed just how much Williams is really missed.
The Bears are just a different team with No. 18 regardless of how much belief Johnson, general manager Ryan Poles and their respective staffs have in Keenum and Bagent.
The Bears won two games with their backup QBs – and that was a great story and accomplishment – but now they need Williams back if he’s healthy enough to play.
“Obviously, we’ve got a lot that rests with No. 18 – he is our starting quarterback,” receiver Rome Odunze said Wednesday. “You know, he has tremendous talent, arm ability with his legs as well. So obviously, when you’re missing a player like that on the field, you feel it. But like you said, man, we have a ton of confidence in our quarterbacks, our quarterback room as a whole, to go out there and make plays. So in his absence, they’re going out there and doing that. But, obviously, No. 18 is a playmaker, for sure.”
