Bears to Start Caleb Williams vs. Falcons After Missing Three Games

Caleb Williams will return to the Chicago Bears’ starting lineup Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, barring any complications during pregame warmups, after missing three games with a hamstring injury, OutKick confirmed.

ESPN first reported Williams’ return. The 24-year-old quarterback was carted off the field on Sept. 20 against the Minnesota Vikings after grabbing the back of his leg in the rain.

Williams made it through a full week of practice without any setbacks, but told reporters on Thursday that he was not sure whether he would start against Atlanta. He declined to disclose the grade of the hamstring injury and called it ‘pretty serious.’

The Bears went 2-1 without Williams. Case Keenum started a Week 3 game against the Philadelphia Eagles and won 27-7. Tyson Bagent started the following week against the New York Jets, a 23-12 Bears victory.

Last week, the Green Bay Packers beat the Bears 31-7. Bagent started that game, and Keenum entered in the fourth quarter.

Chicago is 3-2 and tied for second in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, who also hold 3-2 records. The Minnesota Vikings lead the division at 5-0.

The Bears hope Williams’ return can help close that divisional gap, but a surgeon interviewed by OutKick cautioned that Williams could risk further injury by returning too soon. Dr. Drew Burdi, a former college football player turned surgeon, offered that warning in a recent interview.

Williams’ status will be finalized during pregame warmups, and Chicago has not publicly detailed the severity of the injury beyond Williams’ own description.

Sunday’s game against Atlanta marks Williams’ first action since the injury and gives Chicago a chance to gain ground in a division led by undefeated Minnesota.

Reporting by Fox News. Read the original report: Bears to start Caleb Williams vs Falcons after missing three games with hamstring injury.