The Chicago Bears have spent the last two games without Caleb Williams, and somehow the picture around this team looks better, not worse.
At 3-1 on the 2026 season, Chicago has turned what could have been a messy stretch into a statement about Ben Johnson’s system. Three different starters have taken snaps under center, and each one has delivered a win. That alone says plenty about how the Bears have handled this stretch and why the panic that once felt inevitable has faded fast.
A few weeks ago, it would have been fair to think Chicago might drop two or three games, fall behind early, and spend the rest of the season climbing back while waiting on Williams. Instead, the Bears are sitting just one game behind the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North and have some breathing room thanks to the early struggles of both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
They’re not just surviving. They’re keeping pace.
The part that really stands out is the schedule ahead. Green Bay, Atlanta, and New England are next, and all three look very manageable even before factoring in Williams’ expected return in that stretch. That opens the door for Chicago to keep building while its quarterback gets closer to coming back.
And the Bears have already banked some serious goodwill. They’re one missed Tyson Bagent pass away from being undefeated.
Instead, they’ve made the most of a tough situation and given themselves room to breathe. That matters.
It means the pressure around Williams’ return isn’t nearly as heavy as it could have been, and it means the team can be careful if it wants to be.
That’s the real shift here: Chicago now has options. The Bears don’t have to rush Williams. They can lean on a team that has already shown it can win without him and decide whether the next three games are good enough to let him fully heal before he comes back.
However they handle it, the Bears are in a much stronger spot than anyone probably expected two weeks ago. This is a talented roster that has already proven it can win in multiple ways, and that only reinforces the idea that the Super Bowl talk wasn’t misplaced. It was tied to a team built to matter once its elite quarterback is back in the huddle.
In Other News...
Bears Open Week 5 With A Protection Problem Fans Feared
The Bears opened Week 5 with a familiar and uncomfortable sight on the injury report, and this one hit right where the offense can least afford it. Chicago listed 12 players heading into the week, with seven not practicing, including three starting offensive linemen in Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright, a grouping that leaves the front in clear jeopardy before the game plan even gets into motion.
Caleb Williams was also ruled out and did not practice, adding another layer to an offense already trying to stabilize around a battered line. Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift were among the running backs sidelined by injuries, while the news was a little better on defense, where Kyler Gordon and Cam Lewis were full participants and appear close to returning. Still, the early week picture for Chicago was less about who might come back and more about how many key pieces are suddenly unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Strong Start Just Made One Trade Debate Very Real
Chicagos 3-1 start has changed the tone around the roster, and it has also turned a familiar conversation into a much more serious one: how much should the Bears lean into upgrading a defense that already looks capable of carrying real weight in the NFC? With the Los Angeles Chargers stumbling, the idea of Chicago shopping in that direction suddenly feels less like idle deadline chatter and more like a plausible way to address a unit that could still use another jolt.
The most obvious name in that discussion is Khalil Mack, whose presence would bring instant credibility and familiarity, but he is not the only Chargers defender drawing attention. Tuli Tuipulotu and Cam Hart also fit the kind of long-view roster questions that matter if Los Angeles begins to think differently about its future. For Chicago, the appeal is clear: if the Chargers are drifting toward a reset, the Bears may have a chance to pounce on a player who fits a need before the market gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Luther Burden III Just Added Real Heat To Bears Packers Week 5
Luther Burden III is making it clear the Bears are treating Week 5 like more than just another early-season game. The rookie wideout put the rivalry front and center this week, underscoring Chicagos eagerness to beat Green Bay and do it in convincing fashion, while the bigger backdrop only adds to the temperature around the matchup. Ben Johnson also brings some useful history into this one, with a strong track record against Packers coach Matt LaFleur, including a recent playoff win.
Chicago enters the week with reasons to feel better about where it sits than it has in past editions of this rivalry. The Packers have shown cracks along the offensive line, and the Bears own roster looks deeper and more stable, especially on defense. Burdens comments fit the moment well, because this is the kind of game where confidence, edge and a little extra bite can matter almost as much as the usual Xs and Os. [Read more 🡒]