Caleb Williams Inactive vs Packers, Bagent Starts

Caleb Williams will not play at Lambeau Field. The Bears made their quarterback inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers because of his hamstring injury, and he is not the emergency third quarterback either, so Tyson Bagent gets the start, per the Chicago Sun-Times.

This was the expected call. Williams was listed as questionable after getting back on the practice field Friday, but coach Ben Johnson had said early in the week that Bagent would start. The bigger news is that Williams looks close. He worked out on the field before the game, taking snaps and working on his dropbacks and footwork, and the Sun-Times reports he appears on track to return when practice resumes Wednesday.

Caleb Williams hamstring timeline

Williams suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain on Sept. 20 against the Vikings, per the Sun-Times. Sunday will be the third straight game he misses, per Shaw Local, which is a strange sight for a guy who started 38 straight games, playoffs included, to open his career and played 99 percent of the snaps in each of his first two seasons.

The timing of his return is the real question. The Bears play at Atlanta next Sunday and then host the Patriots on Thursday, Oct. 22. The Sun-Times notes the team could choose to skip that short week and bring him back against New England, with an extended break after that game before a Nov. 2 trip to Seattle.

Bagent gets another shot at Green Bay

Bagent was 25-of-34 for 268 yards and an interception in last Sunday's win over the Jets, per NBC Sports. Veteran Case Keenum is the backup. If you are in a deep league or a superflex spot, Bagent is a playable fill-in, but nobody is rushing to the waiver wire for him.

The rest of the Bears inactives are running back Kyle Monangai (toe), left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (quad), defensive end Jamree Kromah and defensive tackle Jayden Loving. With Braxton Jones on injured reserve, Theo Benedet starts again at left tackle, per Shaw Local.

Packers are banged up too

Green Bay made offensive linemen Jacob Monk, Aaron Banks and Donovan Jennings and defensive tackle Anthony Campbell inactive. The Packers have also lost linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, tackle Zach Bako-Bewele and receiver Jayden Reed to season-ending injuries, per WGN.

The Packers have won their last eight October games, per WGN, and they get the Bears without their franchise quarterback. Bagent has one job today: protect the ball and give Chicago a chance to steal one at Lambeau before Williams comes back.