Losing Caleb Williams was something the Chicago Bears knew was always possible. His style of play meant the risk of injury was always high. Still, seeing him go down in that game against Minnesota led many to fear the season was lost. Mercifully, it looks like Williams will only end up missing three games. Every sign for the past few days indicates the Bears’ starter is set to return this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Going 2-1 in his absence must be considered a major victory for the team.
However, the timing could not be better from his perspective. The Bears suddenly find themselves in a crisis situation. Their defense is in a bad way. Montez Sweat was just suspended for two games. Dayo Odeyingbo is likely out this week with a quad injury, and the same goes for T.J. Edwards. Two key pass rushers and a key run defender are all out against one of the most talented offenses in the NFL. This feels like a game that Chicago can only win by scoring points. That will not happen without Williams in the lineup.
Caleb Williams is fighting against a rough trend.
One of the most startling trends for the Bears’ defense, a running theme since the beginning of last season, is how bad they are on the road. Following Sunday’s loss in Green Bay, they have now allowed an average of 30.4 points per game away from Soldier Field. That is as ugly as it gets. Now you head into Atlanta against a Falcons offense that has averaged 34.33 points over their last three games. Running back Bijan Robinson is averaging a whopping 5.7 yards per carry this season. The Bears just lost two of their most important run defenders. That is before you mention Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
Unless Dennis Allen works some voodoo magic, it is very difficult to imagine the Bears’ defense getting many stops on Sunday. That is why Caleb Williams ‘ return is so critical. His ability to run the offense and, more importantly, create off-script plays is a vital element to the team’s success. He has put up 38 and 59 points, respectively, in his last two road games. Hostile environments don’t affect him as much as they might Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum. The key will be how well prepared the Bears are for the Falcons’ active defensive line.
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The big x-factor will be the hamstring.
Williams relies heavily on his mobility to create opportunities for big plays. That hamstring injury is a pretty big deal for a quarterback like him. Has it healed enough for him to move around without restrictions? If not, it creates a dangerous situation for the Bears. Williams has a natural tendency to hold the ball. That is fine when you can move around and avoid pressure. If you do the same and are stationary in the pocket, you’re inviting lots of hits and sacks. That is a problem he ran into a lot as a rookie in 2024.
Johnson can really help things out by getting the running game back on track. Kyle Monangai hasn’t returned to practice, so it might be D’Andre Swift and whoever the Bears decide to pair him with. Roschon Johnson struggled last week. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone else got a look instead. Either way, the Bears must do everything in their power to give Williams the support needed to win that game. He might be their only chance.
