The Chicago Bears' offense is a high-flying trapeze act capable of producing monstrous numbers, which we saw in Week 1 when they walloped the Carolina Panthers 59-37.
But pulling off the offensive circus can be an intricate dance, and it could get that much more difficult if Caleb Williams, the on-field ringleader, misses any time.
So, when will Caleb Williams return from his injury, and how much will his potential absence impact the market outlook for the Bears?
When will Caleb Williams return?
Update (Oct. 18): Williams returned from his injury in Week 6.
Caleb Williams is currently week-to-week with a hamstring strain, but the Chicago Bears have ruled him out for Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. There was some optimism tied to Williams' status earlier in the week, but he'll end up missing the prime-time affair, significantly altering the betting outlook for the game.
However, his short-term outlook isn't as bad as what was first feared.
Williams suffered what initially seemed like a significant injury when he went down in Week 2 without being contacted. He was rolling around in pain and later carted off with a towel over his head. The Bears soon announced Williams sustained a hamstring strain as he missed the rest of Chicago's 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Any concerns about an extended absence were soon quieted though. After the game, beat reporters noted that Williams was walking through the locker room with only a slight limp, according to Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports. Then tests on Monday confirmed Williams avoided a major injury, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer.
Immediately after the injury, there were memories of him going through the same issue during the 2022 season while starring for USC, when he played through what head coach Lincoln Riley called a "severe" hamstring injury. He didn't miss any time then, but Williams benefited from the month-long layoff prior to the Cotton Bowl.
He's now in the middle of what's expected to be a 3-4 week absence with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Caleb Williams injury history
| Date | Team | Injury | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2, 2022 |
 USC |
Left hamstring strain | Jan. 2, 2023 No starts missed |
| Nov. 3, 2024 |
 Bears |
Left ankle injury | Nov. 10, 2024 No starts missed |
| Sept. 20, 2026 |
Bears |
Right hamstring strain | Week-to-week Return date TBD |
Who will replace Caleb Williams?
It seems quarterback injuries come in bunches for teams here in 2026. Ask the Falcons, and now the Bears.
Tyson Bagent is the Bears' backup quarterback who replaced Williams in Week 2. But he suffered a concussion and was in the protocol. He missed practice on Wednesday, casting doubt over his playing status for Monday too. Bagent then later cleared the concussion protocol on Saturday, but the team is reportedly still set to sit him down, at least to start the game, due to a lack of preparation.
Enter Case Keenum then, whose career peaked in 2017 when the undrafted QB threw for 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while making 14 starts for the Minnesota Vikings.
Yes, that was nearly a decade ago, but being a reasonably competent quarterback can keep landing you gigs toward the darkest bottom of NFL depth charts. The journeyman has started just four games since 2020, and now he could be thrust into the Monday night spotlight.
It's a good time to remember the Eagles boast the league's sixth-best pass defense in yards allowed.
Caleb Williams injury: Odds impact
The Bears are currently sitting at +4.5 in the Monday Night Football odds ahead of their home clash against the Eagles. That will surely rise as the week goes on if it becomes clearer that Keenum, who hasn't thrown a regular-season pass since 2023, is cemented in as the starter.
The NFL odds show the spread has unsurprisingly already been moving, and doing so swiftly after opening at Eagles -3.5. We'll likely see further progression in both that and the total, which went up to 44.5 shortly after opening at 43.5 amid some optimism about Williams playing. But it started to sink on Tuesday. It went down to 41.5 at some spots.
The talent downgrade from Williams to Bagent is enough, but it's another leap altogether to Keenum. The Bears will no doubt shift their focus to the ground, where Chicago's attack is plenty capable and has piled up an NFL-leading 425 yards over just two weeks.
That will lead to a churning clock, favoring the Under. But combine an inability to pass with a feeble defense, and playing from behind effectively enough to keep the score close could be a tough ask for Chicago.
Monday Night Football odds: Eagles vs Bears
EaglesOdds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
