Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took part in full practice Thursday for the first time in nearly a month, but did not say what medical grade had been assigned to his hamstring injury. He described the tear as serious and objected to reports that, in his view, had inaccurately characterized the injury and its expected recovery timeline.
Asked why he was withholding the grade, Williams told reporters it was “not deserving.” He said that accounts suggesting the injury fit a Grade 2 timeline were not accurate, adding that published descriptions of what happened had not been right.
The injury occurred late in Chicago’s Week 2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Williams said he felt a pop while scrambling toward the end zone in the fourth quarter. He was then taken off the field in a cart, visibly emotional.
Williams defended his reaction to being unable to continue, saying he shows emotion when he cannot be on the field with his teammates. He also said jokes about his response did not bother him.
The quarterback said his rehabilitation had involved five to six hours of work each day and that he had reached his top sprint speeds in recent workouts. He recorded full practice participation on consecutive days this week, according to the report.
That practice progress did not settle whether Williams would play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. He said he did not yet know if he would be available and that the decision depended on whether he was ready and received medical clearance. The source report did not provide a medical assessment or a final decision on his game status.
