Caleb Williams is back in the throwing phase of his rehab, and Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the quarterback is moving through the process one step at a time.
“We got him progressively increasing the amount of running that’s going on, and of course the throwing aspect of it is a big part of his position as well,” Johnson said, via Bears Wire. “Our guys have a good plan in place and we’re just going step by step with that right now.”
Johnson also addressed what the depth chart might look like once Williams is cleared. Asked whether Tyson Bagent would stay in the backup role, he kept the answer broad: “We have three guys that can win games in this league.”
He added another update on Williams’ status, saying, “He’s doing a great job progressing and we’ll see when we can make him available to help us win ball games. But he’s itching to get back as soon as he can, which is a good thing, and when we get the green light, we’ll move forward from there.”
In Green Bay, Matt LaFleur gave a short-term update on Skyy Moore’s ankle injury, calling it a concern for now but not a long-term issue: “I would say in the short term there’s a little bit of a concern but nothing long-term.”
LaFleur also said he’s hopeful Savion Williams will be ready for Week 6.
There was also a note on the offensive line. LaFleur said Kevin Zeitler likely could have played in Week 5, but the team wanted to give the veteran more time to ramp up.
He added that Travis Glover’s play made the Packers more comfortable letting Zeitler ease into things. Green Bay offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Glover had gotten more tackle reps during camp because of depth, but his natural fit is at guard.
“It was good to get him back inside, because I think he’s more comfortable inside.”
Stenavich was also asked about the left guard situation once Aaron Banks is healthy, with Laken Tomlinson playing well. His response: “That’s gonna be an interesting thing.”
In Minnesota, the Vikings’ defense keeps stacking up reasons for the team’s unbeaten start, and Brian Flores sits right at the center of it. The Vikings lead the league in scoring defense, and through five weeks that has been a huge part of why they’re one of the few undefeated teams left.
Byron Murphy Jr. didn’t hesitate when talking about Flores, saying via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, “I would definitely say that’s the best coach I’ve ever been around,” Vikings CB Byron Murphy Jr. said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Not even just scheme, all those things-football-wise, we know he’s the best - but this chance that he gives us to connect with our guys, our brothers that’s in the room. Those are the things we look forward to, having those meetings and just connecting as brothers.”
Murphy also pointed to the experience throughout the unit as another major reason the defense has held up so well. With veterans at all three levels and a lot of continuity in Flores’ system, the Vikings have leaned on football IQ to handle a scheme that pushes the limits of traditional defensive rules.
“We got a whole bunch of guys with a lot of IQ. Guys in this defense playing multiple positions, just having those players calling stuff out,” Murphy said. “Like [10th-year linebacker] Eric [Wilson], calling stuff out before the offense even runs it, giving the young guys a chance to read their keys before the play even started.”
In Other News...
Mike Pettines Vikings Exit Looks Even Stranger After His NFL Return
Mike Pettines exit from the Vikings already carried a little intrigue when he left amid philosophical differences with Brian Flores, but his latest move only adds another layer to it. After stepping away from coaching following the 2025 season, the veteran assistant is reportedly headed back to the sideline, this time with the Cowboys, a turn that keeps his NFL resume very much in motion.
For Minnesota, the part worth watching is the path that led him there. Pettines next stop is tied to familiar connections in Dallas, where he has previously worked closely with defensive coordinator Christian Parker and head coach Brian Schottenheimer. It is the kind of coaching reunion that makes his Vikings departure look even more unusual in hindsight, even if the full story of how his return came together is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Bye Week Moves Hint At A New Concern On Offense
During the bye week, the Vikings took a look at some veteran help at wide receiver, working out JuJu Smith-Schuster, DWayne Eskridge and Dayton Wade while also bringing in quarterback Cam Miller for a workout. It is the kind of move that usually says as much about depth and injury management as it does about immediate need, and it suggests Minnesota is at least keeping its options open on the offensive side of the ball.
The receiver group got the most attention, with Smith-Schuster standing out among the names the team evaluated, a reminder that the search is not just about adding bodies but finding someone who can fit quickly if called upon. And while the Vikings were sorting through those possibilities, they also lost running back Audric Estime from the practice squad, with Cleveland moving to sign him away, another small but notable hit to the back end of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Enter Bye With A Rising Star And A Real Concern
The Vikings go into the bye week unbeaten at 5-0 after handling the Saints, and the early part of the season has given them plenty to like on offense and defense. Kirk Cousins has looked sharper than he did a year ago, and the supporting cast has helped carry Minnesota through the first month-plus, with Luke Musgrave and Andrew Booth Jr. among the names making real noise.
Booths rise has been especially encouraging, with the young defensive back tying for the league lead in interceptions and giving the Vikings another playmaker in a secondary that needs them. On the other side of the ball, though, the passing game still has a question hanging over it, and Jalen Jennings has yet to turn the opportunity around even with injuries around him creating openings that should have mattered. [Read more 🡒]