Bears QB Caleb Williams Set to Return and Start vs. Falcons

He's back. 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears "are planning to start Caleb Williams after he missed the past three games due to a torn hamstring."

The Chicago Bears' quarterback injured his hamstring with 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter in the Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Sept 20. Williams missed the next three games against the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, with the Bears going 2-1 during that stretch. 

Williams returned to practice for the first time on Oct. 9 and was a limited participant just two days before the Week 5 game against the Green Bay Packers. He went through an extensive throwing session at Lambeau Field the morning of the game but was ruled inactive. 

During Williams' media availability this past Thursday, he said the goal for that throwing session was to see if he can perform his everyday movements and stay in shape. He was a full participant in every practice this week.

"This week is a big week," Williams said. "Obviously, I've gone through all the cutting and planting and things like that throughout the past couple of weeks, and it's felt good. I mean, y'all were able to see me out there on Friday, moving a little bit. Then obviously before the Packers game. I've been able to get out there and move. It’s felt good. But it's different when you have got to go through a whole week of practice and then you have got to prepare for a game and all of that, the stress in the mind, body and spirit. I think we'll see how it goes this week.”

Before Friday's practice, head coach Ben Johnson said Williams was "on track" and "potentially" would play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson shared what it's been like for the Bears' quarterback since being sidelined.

"It's been a tough deal for him," Johnsons said. "I know he's itching to get back out there and help us win ball games. If we feel really good as a front office, a coaching staff, and the player himself about playing, then we'll go ahead and go with it."

While Williams has been out, there have been countless people attacking his character and making fun of his reaction to his injury. The Bears' 24-year-old quarterback has seen the social media reaction and is using it as "another motivating factor."

Williams is also known for keeping receipts and will frequently like and share posts. After the Bears' 31-7 loss to the Packers, some of Green Bay's players engaged in some trash talk, which Williams saw and heard. The Bears' QB recently changed his Instagram profile picture to John Wick -- the protagonist in the movie action series John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves. 

“I love John Wick and that was the movie that I was watching," Williams said. "I like his mentality, his attitude. So, but the trash talking stuff wasn't out there. Is it frustrating that we get our tail's kicked versus rival? Of course. You know, that's not the position you want to be in. And my position and not being out there, it's frustrating. I think obviously you take it on the chin, you move on. But you learn from it and you use it for fuel throughout the next weeks and until the end of season.”