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Caleb Williams in line to start for the Bears at Atlanta after three games out with a torn hamstring

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Listed as questionable, the Chicago quarterback took the starter's practice snaps all week and is expected to return a week after a 31-7 loss at Green Bay.

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WhyNFL Sports DeskPublished
Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears in 2025
File photo: Caleb Williams during Chicago's Monday night game at Washington in the 2025 season. Photo by Joe Glorioso for All-Pro Reels, CC-BY-SA-4.0, resized.

Caleb Williams is set to start for the Chicago Bears at Atlanta on Sunday, October 18, after missing three games with a torn hamstring, Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport both reported on Saturday.

The Bears have not announced the decision. The club listed Williams as questionable on its final injury report, but both reporters said he took the first-team snaps in practice and came through a full week of work with no setbacks. Coach Ben Johnson said late on Friday that his quarterback was on track.

Three weeks out, three different results

Williams was hurt in the Week 2 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on September 20 and was taken off the field on a cart. Chicago did not put him on injured reserve, and the absence ended a run of 36 straight games he had played. He confirmed this week that the hamstring was torn and called it a serious injury.

The Bears went 2-1 without him. Case Keenum started a 27-7 home win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tyson Bagent won his start against the New York Jets, 23-12. Last Sunday at Green Bay went badly: Bagent threw two interceptions and managed 87 yards on 12 of 21 passing before he was pulled, Keenum added another interception in relief, and the Packers won 31-7.

Before the injury, Williams had completed 36 of 55 passes for 407 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in two games. He also ran for 107 yards on 15 carries, and two of those runs were touchdowns in the 59-37 opening win at Carolina.

Other moves before the trip

Chicago also strengthened its secondary on Saturday, activating cornerback Kyler Gordon from the physically unable to perform list. The Bears moved defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo to injured reserve.

The Falcons, 2-3, lost in overtime to the Baltimore Ravens last week, 30-23.

What comes next

The Bears, 3-2, play the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT; follow it in the Bears-Falcons Game Center. Chicago then has a short week, hosting the New England Patriots on Thursday, October 22, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The full list of designations is on the injury report.

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