CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson called Caleb Williams’ right hamstring injury a “week-to-week” situation while offering a largely positive update a day after the quarterback was helped off the field and carted to the locker room.
asserted
quarterback → call → room
Williams left Sunday’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota after he got hurt on a scramble deep in Vikings territory with about 7 1/2 minutes left.
asserted
he → leave → minutes
The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was replaced by Tyson Bagent.
asserted
pick → replace → Bagent
Johnson said he doesn’t think Williams will practice this week, but he isn’t ruling him out for Chicago’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles next Monday night.
asserted
he → say → Eagles
“He’s right now working through every avenue that he’s got available to get back on track here,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → work → track
“We’ll see what that looks like.
asserted
that → see → what
Here’s what I know: This guy’s a little bit different than the average human being. ...
asserted
guy → ’ → being
He gets back, he has in the past, a lot faster than what people can anticipate.
asserted
people → get → what
I’m not putting a timeline on this.
asserted
I → put → this
We’re going to say week to week.”
asserted
We → go → week
After the home game against Philadelphia, the Bears (1-1) take on the New York Jets on Oct. 4 before visiting the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 11.
asserted
Bears → take → Oct.
Playing in a steady rain at Soldier Field, Williams was 15 for 26 for 138 yards with an interception.
asserted
Williams → play → interception
He also had five carries for 42 yards against Minnesota.
asserted
He → have → Minnesota
The 24-year-old Williams had a towel over his head after he first got on the cart for the trip to the locker room.
asserted
he → have → room
He took the towel off as the cart moved along the sideline and pumped his right arm to rev up the sullen crowd of 58,914.
asserted
cart → take → 58,914
“We’ll see where he’s at as the week progresses and how long that means, but it was somewhat encouraging the report that we got,” Johnson said Monday.
asserted
we → see → that
If Williams is unable to go, Bagent would step in versus the Eagles.
asserted
Bagent → go → Eagles
The Bears also have Case Keenum on their roster.
asserted
Bears → have → roster
He had a record-setting career at Division II Shepherd University before signing with the Bears in May 2023 as an undrafted free agent.
uncertain
He → have → agent
“He’s got full confidence in himself.
asserted
He → get → himself
We have full confidence in him,” offensive lineman Jonah Jackson said, “and we know he can dink and dump the ball around and sling it and also get active with his feet.”
asserted
he → have → feet
Bagent, 26, made four starts while appearing in five games as rookie, passing for 859 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions.
asserted
Bagent → make → interceptions
He signed a two-year contract extension in August 2025.
asserted
He → sign → August
“If it goes that route, I feel strongly about what he’s capable of and our team does, too,” Johnson said.
asserted
Johnson → go → what
“They know he’s a darn good football player.”
What’s working
The rainy conditions helped, but the defense looked much better than it did during a 59-37 win at Carolina in the opener.
asserted
it → know → opener
Minnesota went 3 for 13 on third down and finished with just 246 yards.
asserted
Minnesota → go → yards
Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman and defensive lineman James Lynch tied for the team lead with seven tackles apiece, and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo was credited with his first sack since Sept. 8, 2025, also against the Vikings.
asserted
Odeyingbo → tie → Vikings
What needs help
Penalties are becoming a major issue.
asserted
Penalties → need → help
Chicago was flagged 11 times on Sunday.
asserted
Chicago → flag → Sunday
Eight were accepted for a total of 58 yards, compared to three for 25 for Minnesota.
asserted
Eight → accept → Minnesota
Bradbury was acquired in an offseason trade with New England after Drew Dalman decided to retire.
asserted
Dalman → acquire → England
The Bears were penalized 12 times for 57 yards in Week 1, but their offense was good enough to overcome the mistakes.
asserted
offense → penalize → mistakes
Malik Muhammad picked up his first career sack on a blitz late in the third quarter.
asserted
Muhammad → pick → quarter
The rookie cornerback had his first interception in his NFL debut in Week 1.
asserted
cornerback → have → Week
Stock down
Sam Roush struggled in his first NFL home game.
asserted
Roush → struggle → game
The rookie tight end was flagged for an illegal shift with 3:02 left in the second quarter, wiping out a 14-yard catch for Colston Loveland.
asserted
end → flag → Loveland
He had a chance for a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, but he was unable to secure the ball before he was hit by Vikings safety Theo Jackson.
asserted
he → have → Jackson
Roush also was lined up on the same edge as Isaiah Rodgers when Rodgers blocked Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field goal in the fourth.
asserted
Rodgers → line → fourth
There was no update on cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who injured a hamstring during Sunday’s loss.
asserted
who → be → loss
Key number
0 — Chicago went 0 for 3 in the red zone — all in the second half — against Minnesota.
asserted
Chicago → go → Minnesota
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
