Caleb Williams' Week 5 injury status has everyone asking the same question

After the Chicago Bears' Week 4 victory over the New York Jets, it didn't take long for players, coaches and fans to move on.

We know what Week 5 brings us. It's Packers week.

And, as Ben Johnson acknowledged on ESPN 1000, starting quarterback Caleb Williams will not be practicing at all this week as he continues to rehab and recover from his Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.

I repeat: Caleb Williams is not practicing in Week 5.

Of course, this now puts the number one question at the forefront, again, for everybody:

When will Caleb Williams return?

Diving into when Caleb Williams might return and what makes the most sense for the Bears

Initially, Williams was said to be out approximately 3-4 weeks. Suffering that injury on Sunday September 20, the 4-week mark would end precisely on Sunday, October 18th.

The Bears travel to play the Atlanta Falcons on that day, but with this being the immediate end of that 4-week timeline, would it make sense for Williams to come back immediately and on that very day? Would he be 100 percent by then?

Better question: can the Bears beat the Falcons without Williams?

If you were to ask that question two weeks ago, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Of course, the Bears can beat the Falcons without Williams.

Not so fast.

Two games in a row, the Falcons' offense has looked explosive behind the return of Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta has scored 80 points over their last two games, combined, which have both resulted in wins (Packers, Saints).

No matter how impressive the Falcons have looked, recently, the fact of the matter is tha risking Williams' health by allowing him back on the field immediately after that 4-week window is up would be, well, a huge risk.

So, the Bears likely continue to roll with Tyson Bagent for that tilt in Atlanta.

That brings us to a short week with the Bears playing the New England Patriots, at home, on Thursday night just four days later.

This is a home game, under the lights, on a national stage.

But, we're only a handful of days past that 4-week timetable. Do we think Williams is going to be 100 percent by then?

Let us not forget that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson already laid out the perfect blueprint for Williams' return after his own hamstring injury last season. Jackson was hurt in Week 4 (technically Week 3, by his own later admission) and didn't return until Week 9.

Williams returning against the Patriots would have him missing the same number of games Jackson missed last year, but without a few extra days of practice as the Patriots matchup is a Thursday night game.

It's a big game against the reigning AFC Champions. It's at home. It's a big stage.

But, would it be smarter to give Williams just one more week to make sure he is as healthy as he can be for the remainder of the season and a playoff run?

The safest return date for Caleb Williams may also be on a national stage, but not against the Patriots

Let's look ahead.

Should Williams sit out just one more game and allow the Bears to try and take care of New England with Bagent under center, he could return after an extended week of practice, thanks to the previously-shortened week and the following matchup being on Monday Night Football.

It'll be the Bears' second-straight matchup with a Super Bowl team from a year ago, this time, the Seattle Seahawks, on the road, and on Monday night.

The Bears play the Seahawks on Monday, November 2, in Seattle. This would now put him at the six-week mark in terms of his recovery.

Now, while that's two weeks more than what we may have thought, it's also arguably the safest and smartest target date for Williams' return.

This is not to say he couldn't return against the Patriots in the previous week, but if there is any doubt whatsoever, then returning against Seattle makes a lot of sense. The last thing the Bears want to do is put Williams back out there, even if he's feeling 95 percent.

The risk of re-injuring a hamstring is high. It is the type of injury that can nag, linger and reappear.

We're talking about the very first franchise quarterback in this team's illustrious history, for crying out loud.

If the Bears are playing good football and well within the playoff picture still, in Week 7 as they prepare for New England, then it would not be a bad idea to let Williams rest up just a little bit more.

I think I speak for all Bears fans when I say we want this guy to be 100 percent when he hits the field again, and maybe that won't be until Week 8 in Seattle.

But, it'd sure be worth the wait.

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