Bears QB Caleb Williams Returns to Practice for First Time Since WK 2 Injury

The Chicago Bears had one extra quarterback at Halas Hall for the final practice of the week before the Week 5 matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. 

Caleb Williams was a limited participant in Friday's practice after sustaining a Grade 2 hamstring injury in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 20. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers. 

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson shared an update on Williams' recovery before the team's practice on Friday. 

"He’s right on track," Johnson said. "We’ve got him throwing a little bit the other day and we’ve got a progression set up for what that looks like. So to be determined how long it’s going to be."

Johnson also highlighted what Williams' return protocol entails. 

"We’ve got him progressively increasing the amount of running that’s going on and of course the throwing aspect of it is a big part of his position as well," Johnson said. "Our guys have a good plan in place and we’re just going step by step with that right now and every couple of days we’re getting a throwing protocol in and making sure there are no setbacks. So far so good.""

Williams was briefly in the Bears' locker room after Thursday's practice. That was the first time I've seen the Bears' quarterback since Chicago's win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Williams was outside of the Bears' locker room, hanging out with some people after the game. 

Although Friday was Williams' first practice since Sept. 18, he has still been involved with the team. Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor provided some insight during his Thursday press conference. 

"In terms of the walkthroughs and the meetings and all that, he's very involved, very engaged, exactly like he would be if he were the starter," Taylor said. "That's the same way that Tyson [Bagent] and Case [Keenum] handled everything. You're not getting the bulk of the reps; you try to do everything possible to put yourself in the person's shoes getting the rep without being the one physically out there. In terms of engagement and the way [quarterbacks coach] J.T.'s [0Barrett] approached that, I think we're very pleased with where he is in terms of staying involved in the plan."

ESPN's Adam Schefter initially wrote on X that doctors consider a Grade 2 hamstring injury as a three-to-four-week injury. Williams hasn't been ruled out yet for Sunday's game, but the Week 6 road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons does look more like a possibility with Williams returning to practice on Friday.