In a disappointing 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Chicago Bears were dealt another blow as rookie quarterback Caleb Williams suffered an ankle injury on the game’s final play. The highly touted first-round pick out of USC had struggled throughout the afternoon, completing just 22 of 41 passes for 217 yards and no touchdowns.
According to a source close to the team, Williams got twisted up by the Cardinals’ defensive front after completing a short pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen as time expired. The young signal-caller got up slowly and limped off the field, raising concerns about his health going forward.
A Closer Look at the Injury
Speaking to reporters after the game, Williams shed some light on the play that led to his ankle injury. “I landed wrong and just kind of tweaked it,” he explained. “On the last play, the dude grabbed my ankle and gator rolled. I tried to get off of it because when you stay on it, that’s when bad stuff starts to happen and it breaks and all of that.”
Despite the concerning nature of the play, both Williams and head coach Matt Eberflus seemed optimistic about the quarterback’s prognosis. “He limped off there a little bit,” Eberflus noted. “When he came in, he looked to be fine. We’ll check him in the morning.”
Questionable Decision-Making
Some have questioned the wisdom of having Williams on the field in the game’s waning moments, with the Bears trailing by an insurmountable 20 points. In the final drive, which began with just 2:15 remaining, four of Chicago’s last five plays were called passes.
You fight to the end of the game, if you’re in the game. If not, the coach makes a decision like that. You have to deal with it and figure out the next steps. But yeah, not my decision.
Caleb Williams on playing in the final minutes of a blowout loss
Eberflus defended the decision to keep his starting quarterback in the game, telling reporters that the offense was “getting work and getting timing on the two-minute operation.” However, some observers have suggested that the risk of injury in a meaningless situation outweighed any potential benefits.
Offensive Struggles Continue
Williams’ injury is just the latest setback for a Bears offense that has sputtered in recent weeks. Sunday marked the first time in eight games that Chicago failed to score a touchdown, as they managed just three Cairo Santos field goals against a stout Cardinals defense.
Eberflus acknowledged that the team’s offensive woes ultimately fall on his shoulders. “I take full responsibility for that,” the first-year head coach admitted. “We’ll work with the offensive staff tomorrow morning as we watch this tape tonight and find answers.”
Looking Ahead
With back-to-back losses to the Commanders and Cardinals, the Bears have fallen to 4-5 on the season and find themselves on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture. A Week 10 matchup with the Detroit Lions looms large, as Chicago looks to keep pace in a competitive NFC North.
Much will depend on the health of their star quarterback, as Williams has shown flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign despite the team’s inconsistencies. Bears fans will be holding their breath as they await further updates on his ankle injury in the coming days.
For now, the focus will be on getting Williams healthy and finding ways to jumpstart an offense that has too often stalled in critical moments. If the Bears hope to make a late-season push for the postseason, they’ll need their talented young signal-caller at his best – and that starts with protecting him both on and off the field.
