It's looking increasingly likely that Caleb Williams will miss the massive Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears showdown in Week 5.
There was some uncertainty over the severity of Williams' hamstring injury, which he suffered in the Bears' Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport offered some clarity in a report for ESPN and NFL Network.
Per Schefter and Rapoport, Williams is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring injury that "could sideline him for three to four weeks."
It could directly impact the Packers-Bears game on October 11, just three weeks removed from Williams' injury. Although he could return in time for that game, that's likely on the optimistic end of the timeline, especially given the frustrating nature of hamstring injuries and the importance of not returning too soon.
What Caleb Williams' Grade 2 hamstring injury could mean for Packers and the NFC North
Williams' absence will have an undeniable impact on the rest of the NFC North. Chicago enters Monday Night Football at 1-1, and facing the Philadelphia Eagles without Williams is a daunting challenge.
For the sake of argument, let's say Williams misses the next three games, including the trip to Lambeau Field. It's entirely plausible the Bears lose all of them and slip to 1-4.
The Bears' games Caleb Williams could potentially miss
Week | Opponent |
|---|---|
3 | vs. Eagles (ruled out) |
4 | vs. Jets |
5 | at Packers |
6 | at Falcons |
It's a critical period in the Bears' schedule, as they could quickly fall behind in the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings are 3-0, the Detroit Lions 2-1. The Packers – well, the less said about them, the better – but they still have an opportunity to pull away from the Bears.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course, and Chicago could win without Williams. Ben Johnson is one of the league's best play-callers and will have a plan, just as Matt LaFleur did with Malik Willis.
Time will tell, but Williams' injury is significant for the entire NFC North.
Packers-Bears clash likely isn't the blockbuster the NFL hoped for
The NFL probably felt pretty good about a Week 5 slot for Packers-Bears, an early-season rematch from a playoff game for the ages (not from our perspective, but you know what I mean).
It's fair to wonder if the league believed this would be Micah Parsons' return game. It always seemed likely he'd begin the season on the PUP list, which would open the door for a Week 5 return. That now seems like a major long shot.
Parsons hasn't returned to practice yet. We'll see if the Packers open his 21-day return window this week, but doing so 13 days before the Bears game is nowhere near enough time. Even a Week 6 return feels too optimistic.
And now there's the Caleb Williams factor. Will he play? If so, will he be 100 percent? That's now in jeopardy. One of the biggest games on the NFL calendar could be largely ruined with no Williams or Parsons.
In a perfect world, both players will be ready and we see the Packers and Bears go at it at close to full strength. Bring it on.
In reality, though, it's looking increasingly unlikely that Williams or Parsons will be out there for a pivotal NFC North showdown.
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