Retour
Williams has been sidelined since Week 2.
The Chicago Bears expect to have their starting quarterback available for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday afternoon that the quarterback has had no setbacks, and all signs point to him starting Sunday.
Williams has been sidelined for the last three weeks. The Chicago QB suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. When Williams went down at the end of the game, his reaction led many to worry he would miss significant time.
He was diagnosed with a hamstring strain, but it was still enough to sideline him for three weeks. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum managed a 2-1 record in his absence.
In two games this season, Williams has thrown for 407 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The quarterback has used his legs well this season, picking up 107 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Chicago is 3-2 and coming off a loss to the Green Bay Packers. Bagent got the start, but he struggled to figure out the Packers’ defense. The team benched him in the second half in favor of Keenum.
Bagent’s last drive ended in an interception before halftime. Keenum’s first second-half drive ended with an interception in the endzone.
The veteran Keenum was the hero in Chicago’s Week 4 blowout of the Philadelphia Eagles. Against Green Bay, though, Keenum finished 11 of 19 passing for 108 yards with an interception and a fumble lost. Bagent was 12 of 21 for just 21 yards with two picks.
Williams began the week participating fully in practice. He practiced fully on Thursday and Friday but was still listed as questionable heading into the weekend.
With no reported setbacks, he is expected to be under center against the Falcons on Sunday. Chicago opted not to add Williams to injured reserve after his injury. If they had, he wouldn’t be eligible to play this week.
Head coach Ben Johnson is known for being crafty with his game plan, so he could trot Bagent out for the first play and then swap in Williams, but regardless, it sounds like Chicago has its starting QB back.