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Caleb Williams Ruled Out; Case Keenum to Start Monday Night for Bears

The Bears declined to place Williams on injured reserve, a sign they expect a short hamstring recovery that pushes the team to a veteran-led game plan for the primetime matchup.

Overview

  • Williams suffered a right hamstring strain in Week 2 and was officially ruled out for Monday Night Football, with multiple reports describing the injury as a Grade 2 strain and a typical three- to four-week recovery window.
  • Chicago did not place Williams on injured reserve, a roster choice reporters say signals the club expects his absence to be limited to the short-term IR window.
  • The Bears named 38-year-old veteran Case Keenum their starter for the primetime game, turning to his experience after backup Tyson Bagent missed much of the week while in concussion protocol.
  • Coach Ben Johnson declined to set a firm return timeline and said Williams has healed faster than expected in the past, making the three- to four-week estimate a medical guideline rather than a fixed date.
  • The change at quarterback reshapes Chicago’s game plan for Soldier Field and could limit the offense’s passing upside against a 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles team on national TV, while also affecting roster and depth decisions in the coming weeks.