Fans of the Chicago Bears would like to say they felt relief when Tyson Bagent hit the turf and the clocks read 0:00, but that lingering image of their superstar Quarterback Caleb Williams being carted off the field following a non-contact injury near the goal line was near impossible to get out of their heads.
After the Bears put up 59 points over the Panthers last week, many people immediately picked them to come out of the NFC in February and have performances like that every week. The only problem is that reality “rained” on their parade. The Bears mustered just one field goal this week after their other field goal attempt was blocked by CB Isiah Rodgers of the Vikings.
Before the unfortunate injury, Williams threw 15/26 for 138 yards and an interception. His backup Bagent threw 5/9 for 54 yards. The dazzling duo from a week ago couldn’t even combine for 100 total yards as Kyle Monangai led the team with 47 yards and DeAndre Swift closely followed with 45 yards of his own. Swift did however add an additional 5 catches for 54 yards through the air, which led the team.
For the Vikings, Quarterback Carson Wentz completed 11 of his 20 passes for 143 yards. Veteran Running Back Aaron Jones turned back the clock as he took 23 carries for 105 yards. Justin Jefferson finished with 3 catches for 55 yards, but his dropped catch in the end zone that set up a Will Reichard Field Goal is the play that’s going to stick in his head.
Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson said post game that Williams’ injury is a Hamstring injury and could be as low as a grade 1, but he will undergo further testing tomorrow. If Williams can’t go, Tyson Bagent will lead the team into Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings go in with QB uncertainty of their own as initial starter Kyler Murray may be ready to play in the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Murray isn’t cleared from Concussion protocol, Carson Wentz will make his 2nd start of the season.