The Chicago Bears still don't know who will start at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, but coach Ben Johnson offered an encouraging update on Caleb Williams' recovery on Monday.
According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Johnson said Williams continues to make progress from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 2.
"He's doing a great job progressing, and we'll see when we can make him available to help us win ball games," Johnson said. "But he's itching to get back as soon as he can, which is a good thing, and when we get the green light, we'll move forward from there."
The update comes one day after Chicago's disappointing 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers, a game in which the Bears' offense struggled mightily without its franchise quarterback.
Tyson Bagent started against Green Bay before being replaced by veteran Case Keenum in the fourth quarter. The two combined for three interceptions as Chicago committed five turnovers.
Williams' return would provide an obvious boost to an offense looking to bounce back against Atlanta.
However, Johnson made it clear that the Bears aren't ready to announce their Week 6 starter, even if Williams remains unavailable.
"No determination has been made in terms of what direction we're going," Johnson said, according to Cronin. "There are a lot of things that we're assessing right now."
That leaves multiple possibilities on the table.
If Williams is cleared, he'll be back in the lineup. If he isn't ready, Johnson must decide whether to stick with Bagent or turn to Keenum, who helped lead Chicago to a Week 3 victory over Philadelphia.
"We have three guys that can win games in this league," Johnson said when asked if Bagent would remain the team's QB2.
For now, Williams' recovery remains the biggest storyline heading into Week 6.
His ability to practice throughout the week should provide a clearer picture of whether he'll be ready to face the Falcons.
Until then, Johnson isn't committing to anyone.
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