Chicago Bears fans held their collective breath Sunday when franchise quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a non-contact hamstring injury. He was carted to the locker room during an agonizing 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With Chicago’s season suddenly hanging in the balance, however, an encouraging update from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio offered a much-needed reason for optimism.

Florio reported that there is hope Williams avoided a severe injury. The initial expectation is reportedly potentially a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which is the lowest level of the injury.

“It could be as slight as a grade one,” Florio said. He also noted that an MRI on Monday will provide a clearer diagnosis. Williams was reportedly in good spirits and ready to attack his recovery. However, even a relatively mild strain could keep him sidelined for next Monday night’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

If Williams cannot suit up, Tyson Bagent is expected to take over under center. Chicago will wait for more definitive medical information. The Bears fell to 1-1 after the Vikings loss. That has made the quarterback’s availability particularly significant with Philadelphia looming.

Selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams has rapidly established himself as Chicago’s franchise quarterback. He set Bears rookie-era franchise marks with 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024. That was before taking a major step forward under Ben Johnson in 2025. That's when he led Chicago to an 11-6 record and NFC North title with 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. He opened 2026 with a 59-point performance against Carolina and entered Week 2 having started 36 straight games.