Les Bears de Chicago affronteront les Packers de Green Bay au Lambeau Field sans le quart-arrière Caleb Williams, alors que les deux équipes s’apprêtent à croiser le fer dans le cadre de cette rivalité.
Williams has missed the last two games for the Bears due to a thigh injury, leaving backup Tyson Bagent in line to start Sunday’s matchup, according to team reports. Chicago enters the contest with a 3-1 record, while Green Bay stands at 2-2.
Bagent Steps In as Bears Face Historic Rivals Without Williams
Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field brings together two NFC North rivals on contrasting trajectories. The Bears have won three of their last four meetings against the Packers, a sharp pivot after Green Bay dominated the matchup with 11 victories from 2019 to 2024. In December, Chicago secured a 22-16 overtime win by erasing a late deficit with 10 points in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. They followed that performance in the postseason by overcoming a 21-3 halftime deficit to defeat Green Bay 31-27 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Tyson Bagent, who is expected to take the offensive snaps in place of the injured Williams, acknowledged the unique weight of the fixture. “Dire que c’est un match comme les autres ne serait pas vrai,” Bagent said, translated as acknowledging that calling it just another game would be false in one of the sport’s greatest rivalries.
Animosity Deepens Following Coaching Changes and Viral Comments
The rivalry took on added friction following the arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach of the Bears. A post-game locker room speech delivered by Johnson after Chicago’s playoff victory circulated widely on social media after he used sharp language regarding the Packers.
Zaire Franklin, a linebacker who joined the Packers this offseason after spending eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, noted the genuine hostility between the two franchises. “Il y a beaucoup d’animosité, beaucoup d’animosité,” Franklin said, describing a deep and authentic animosity that stands apart from modern player friendships during the offseason. “Je ne pense pas que quiconque veuille fraterniser avec les Bears pendant la saison morte.”
Green Bay offensive lineman Jordan Morgan indicated that Johnson’s previous remarks continue to resonate within the Packers locker room. “Je veux dire, il nous manque de respect,” Morgan stated, adding that the team takes the comments personally as they prepare to prove they are the superior squad.
Packers Grapple With Season-Ending Injuries and Roster Gaps
While the Bears have managed to navigate early-season absences, the Packers face significant personnel losses across their roster. Green Bay lost linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to an Achilles tendon injury, offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele to a knee injury, and wide receiver Jayden Reed to a neck injury, with all three ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Star linebacker Micah Parsons remains sidelined as he recovers from a torn knee ligament. In addition, the team’s ground game has been impacted by the absence of running back Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with legal proceedings following an altercation with a former partner.
Standings Implications at Lambeau Field
A victory on Sunday would lift the Packers to the .500 mark for the first time this season while avenging their two most recent losses to Chicago. Kickoff at Lambeau Field is scheduled as both organizations vie for early control within the fiercely contested NFC North division standings.
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