Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams sounds like a guy who intends to play on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaking with reporters Thursday at Halas Hall, Williams offered an update on his mobility and physical condition as the Bears prepare for Sunday's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
"I mean, I can move, I can run," Williams said. "I hit a top speed the other day, one of my high speeds I've ever hit and so I can move, I can run, I've got strength."
He's running faster now? Yep, that sounds like good news to me.
But Williams did acknowledge that recovering from a hamstring injury isn't as simple as regaining the ability to run at full speed.
Caleb Williams explained what's holding up his return
Williams emphasized that the biggest challenge now is making sure his hamstring can withstand the physical demands of an entire NFL game.
"It's like I said, just going through the stress test because obviously fibers and things like that in your hamstrings and muscles have to connect back together to be able to go out there and play a 60-minute game," Williams said.
The Bears have been cautious with their franchise quarterback since he suffered the injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2.
Williams has missed Chicago's last three games, and the team has not officially confirmed whether he'll return against Atlanta.
Still, his comments suggest he'll be suiting up.
Williams understands the risk of reinjury
Perhaps the most revealing part of Williams' comments was his point that a hamstring injury doesn't necessarily have to be fully healed before a player can safely return to action.
"A hamstring of any person doesn’t fully heal after three weeks, four weeks, five months," Williams said. "It takes a while, but there are certain parameters that allow you to go out there and play."
He also emphasized the importance of minimizing the risk of another setback.
"There are certain parameters that clear you to go and lower the risk of reinjuring, and obviously just being smart with it throughout the week," Williams said. "And then obviously in game it’s game, and you gotta go play, you gotta go make plays for the team."
Williams knows that once he's back on the field, he'll need to play without hesitation.
The Bears enter Sunday's game at 3-2, looking to rebound from their most disappointing performance of the season. Getting Williams back would be a significant boost, but Chicago must balance the urgency of winning with protecting its franchise quarterback.
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