Chicago’s Week 8 trip to Seattle suddenly has a new layer of uncertainty after Bears quarterback Caleb Williams left Sunday’s 9-3 loss to Minnesota with a right hamstring injury.
Williams was hurt on a scramble deep in Vikings territory with about 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was helped off the wet field at Soldier Field on a rainy afternoon, then later went to the locker room on a cart with a towel over his head. As the cart rolled down the sideline, he pulled the towel away and pumped his right arm toward a quiet crowd of 58,914.
“I mean you could kind of see in real time. I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said.
“That was my first inclination. But yeah, a hamstring can be pretty damaging as well.
We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there. It’s quickly you’ve got to turn the page.”
Before leaving, Williams went 15 for 26 for 138 yards with an interception and added five carries for 42 yards. Backup Tyson Bagent took over, and Chicago’s next drive stalled when Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field goal was blocked by Isaiah Rodgers, keeping Minnesota ahead 6-3.
“As a teammate and as a good friend of mine, the connection we’ve built over the years, it’s super unfortunate to see him go down,” Bagent said.
The Bears are scheduled to travel to Seattle in Week 8 to face the Seahawks on Monday, Nov. 2.
Williams entered the game coming off a strong opening performance in Chicago’s 59-37 win over Carolina in Week 1. Against the Panthers, he completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for 65 yards and two more scores in the highest-scoring opener in franchise history.
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