Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will undergo an MRI on Monday to evaluate a right hamstring injury sustained during the fourth quarter of a loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, leaving backup Tyson Bagent in line to start next week.
The Chicago Bears face an anxious wait following a rainy, bruising divisional matchup at Soldier Field that ended in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Caleb Williams fell to the turf with a right hamstring injury. Head coach Ben Johnson told reporters after the game that his initial fear was a knee issue, noting, I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee,
while acknowledging that the hamstring could be pretty damaging as well.
Prior to his exit, Williams was 15 of 26 for 138 yards with an interception on a rainy day at Soldier Field at the time of the injury. Despite the severity of the exit, Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports reported that Williams was later seen in the locker room walking under his own power without the use of crutches.
Tyson Bagent Prepares to Step In as Schedule Toughens
With Williams scheduled for a diagnostic MRI on Monday, backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is positioned to take the mantle if Williams missed extended time. Bagent replaced Williams under center for Chicago and nearly led the Bears to a comeback, but Bagent was sacked by Dallas Turner on fourth down in the red zone to end the game, after Chicago proceeded to have a potential game-tying field goal blocked after the drive stalled with Williams out of the game. Bagent would be in line to start if Williams missed extended time.
The offensive setback arrives at a precarious moment for a Chicago team navigating a remarkably competitive NFC North, with all four teams harboring playoff ambitions. The Chicago Bears enter as the defending division champions, but face heavy pressure from a reloaded division. Detroit aims to bounce back behind a high-powered offense, Green Bay looks to navigate early injury concerns, and Minnesota enters with a new-look roster.
Expectations inside and outside the organization remain elevated following a breakthrough season under new coach Ben Johnson, with the development of quarterback Caleb Williams, an impeccable turnover margin, and the team’s steely late-game resolve serving as driving forces behind their first division title in seven years. Consider, though, just how close the Bears came to missing the playoffs again. Their NFL-record seven wins after trailing in the last two minutes of regulation included a stunner over the Minnesota Vikings, whose go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left was washed out by a kickoff coverage gaffe that led to a 56-yard return and game-winning field goal by the Bears as time expired.
Navigating High Expectations and Early Season Tests
What a way to kick off the 2026 NFL season for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams by dropping 59 points on the Carolina Panthers with a 72.4% completion percentage and four total touchdowns. Williams, who’s now behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen at +600 in MVP odds when he was +1200 before the start of the season, is on track to continue to be in that MVP conversation. But winning an MVP award isn’t on Williams’ mind.
With the Chicago Bears set to take on the Carolina Panthers Sunday, quarterback Caleb Williams received some intriguing advice from Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, who will serve as an analyst for the FOX broadcast alongside Chicago native Adam Amin. Brees sat down with Williams during the production meeting this week and Amin shared the advice he had for the Bears quarterback. Amin said that Brees shared advice on how he can be more efficient to raise his completion percentage this season. Drew's line at the end of our conversation with Caleb was 'Do you know the difference between a 60% passer and a 70% passer?'
Amin said. Caleb's answer was 'Is it checkdowns?' But Drew's answer was 'Three completions. You get three more completions in a game, when you're throwing the ball 30 times a game.'
The Chicago Bears are viewed very differently than they have been over the past decade. The Bears are NFC North division champions.
Locker Room Energy and the Road Ahead
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was on “Hot Onesrecently and was asked an interesting question about his teammates. The host, Sean Evans, asked Williams to name a teammate
who never shuts up, even in the huddle. It took Williams no time to come up with his answer: wide receiver Jahdae Walker. “Jahdae Walker. You hear Jahdae Walker when you wake up. You hear him when you go to sleep,
Williams explained. “You hear him in the locker room as soon as you get to the locker room.”
For now, the immediate focus centers entirely on the training room. Monday’s MRI results will determine whether Chicago must prepare for a short-term absence or navigate a more daunting multi-week stretch without its franchise centerpiece.
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