Bears HC Ben Johnson speaks on QB Caleb Williams' hamstring injury

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bears HC Ben Johnson speaks on QB Caleb Williams' hamstring injury

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 20, 2026 6:25 PM ET

Chicago Bears second-year head coach Ben Johnson provided no injury update on third-year quarterback Caleb Williams following a 9-3 Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game in Chicago while trying to scramble for a go-ahead touchdown. The QB went 15-of-26 passing for 138 yards and one interception before leaving the game on a cart. Like media members and fans, Johnson is still waiting to hear more on his status.

Ben Johnson speaks on Caleb Williams' injury

Johnson said he will know more about Williams' injury on Monday, and he remains in good spirits. The coach noted he's glad the QB didn't suffer a knee injury, which may have been worse.

"I'm actually happy it's nothing with the knee — that was my first inclination," Johnson said (h/t Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons). "But a hamstring injury could be damaging as well. So, we'll see. We'll see how bad it is tomorrow and go from there."

Caleb Williams gives a thumbs up as he's carted off the field.

: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/omeGyES2s5
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 20, 2026

Recovery times for hamstring injuries vary by severity. A Grade 1 hamstring injury, for example, can take just days to recover from. Grade 3 hamstring injuries, however, take several months to recover from and may require surgery.

Regardless, the Bears (1-1) should begin preparing for the possibility that backup QB Tyson Bagent will play in Week 3 on "Monday Night Football" against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0). Bagent, a former Division II star for the Shepherd Rams, replaced an injured Justin Fields during the 2023 season and surprised, going 2-2 in four starts.

Against Minnesota, Bagent looked decent after Williams exited, completing 5-of-9 passes for 54 yards. Chicago will still be much less explosive if he plays in Week 3.

Williams looked like an early MVP candidate in a 59-37 Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, completing 21-of-29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 65 yards and two TDs on 10 carries.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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