Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is back in practice, and appears to be on track to return to the field this week to face the Atlanta Falcons. The move comes three weeks after Williams suffered a hamstring injury that led him to miss three games — though the quarterback is now refusing to explain the exact nature of that injury.
When speaking to reporters on Thursday, Williams said that he suffered a hamstring tear, but declined to provide a severity. He repeatedly mentioned what he called “false” reports about his hamstring injury during the press conference, and cited that as his reason for staying quiet.
“It was a hamstring tear, and a pretty serious one,” Williams said. “We got a grade but I wouldn’t say it’s deserved to be put out there, after all the false ones.”
Williams’ frustration with the media became clear early on in the conference, as the quarterback used his opening remarks to talk about both his injury progress and the reaction to his injury.
“It’s something that has been discussed for the past, however long I’ve been out — 3 weeks, 25 days, 26 days. … There’s nothing that has come out that has been right about what it is or what it has been, and so that’s been fun to deal with,” Williams said. “If you haven’t heard it from the boss man himself or out of the horse’s mouth — me — it would probably be wrong, which every single one has been.”
“It’s something that has been discussed for the past, however long I’ve been out — 3 weeks, 25 days, 26 days. … There’s nothing that has come out that has been right about what it is or what it has been, and so that’s been fun to deal with,” Williams said. “If you haven’t heard it from the boss man himself or out of the horse’s mouth — me — it would probably be wrong, which every single one has been.”
Later on, Williams was asked again about why he didn’t want to disclose the details of his injury.
“‘Cause it’s not deserving,” he said. When the reporter pushed back, he repeated the sentiment: “Just not deserving. Next question.”
Williams also addressed the social media reaction to the injury, which came after an awkward slide in the fourth quarter of Chicago’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The video of Williams being taken off the field in tears spawned a number of memes, which Williams said he didn’t mind.
“I’m always gonna show emotion, especially when I can’t be out there with the guys … It’s everything to me. So not being able to be out there was frustrating. That was more of the tears or whatever that was,” Williams said. “The other half of it was just everybody making jokes and all of that, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s the other half of the national or the local (media) and them putting out false things that weren’t true to then allow people to go run with it.”
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“I’m always gonna show emotion, especially when I can’t be out there with the guys … It’s everything to me. So not being able to be out there was frustrating. That was more of the tears or whatever that was,” Williams said. “The other half of it was just everybody making jokes and all of that, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s the other half of the national or the local (media) and them putting out false things that weren’t true to then allow people to go run with it.”
It’s not entirely clear which reports Williams is referring to, but there have been conflicting reports over the past few weeks. The day after the injury, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported that Williams had avoided serious injury and could even return to play in Week 3, a stark contrast to what the injury initially appeared to be. That report, and others downplaying the severity, led to a flood of jokes about Williams overreacting to the injury.
The following week, ESPN reported that Williams had a “Grade 2 hamstring injury,” though did not clarify more details.
After the injury, Williams missed three games, but is hoping to be back this Sunday if possible. The quarterback said Thursday that he would be undergoing stress tests this week to assess where’s he at before the Bears official declare him good to go, but assured reporters on Thursdaythat he could “move” and “run” well.
The Bears backup quarterbacks have struggled in Williams’ absence, with a toothless loss to the Green Bay Packers last week breaking up surprise wins.
On Thursday, Williams seemingly admitted that Chicago needing him back under center may have motivated an early return: The quarterback said that his hamstring would not be “fully heal(ed)” after just three weeks, but that “certain parameters” and “being smart with it” can let him re-take the field without risk of aggravating the injury.
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