The Chicago Bears looked like one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL in Week 1, dismantling the Carolina Panthers to the tune of 59 points behind the partnership of head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
Unfortunately, all of the positive momentum and vibes came to a sudden halt in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. In teh fourth quarter, Williams went down clutching his hamstring after a non- contact injury. The quarterback had to be helped off the field and was carted to the locker room with a towel over his head. When he removed that towel, a teary-eyed Williams gave Bears fans a thumbs-up and a fist pump, leading many to speculate the worst had occurred and he’d suffered a season-ending injury.
The final prognosis was much less severe, as an MRI on Monday showed a grade 1 hamstring strain rather than anything that would cost Williams his season. After the news, Williams found himself facing heavy criticism for his reaction to the injury, and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was among those who had some harsh words for the young quarterback.
“We’re glad that it’s not as serious as it could have been. But the reaction that he gave, I thought the man was done half the season,” Shannon Sharpe said on his _Nightcap_ podcast. “I said, ‘We’re about to put him on IR,’ and hopefully- they talk week to week about the potential that he could play.”
Sharpe compared Williams’ reaction to that of New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who went down with a season-ending injury on Monday night, but walked off the field to the locker room under his own power.
“I said, ‘Oh my god.’ I said, ‘Oh, what had happened?’ You see Jaxson Dart? Jaxson Dart said, ‘Nah, don’t I get that stinking cart out of here,’” Sharpe said. “I ain’t getting on no cart.”
Regardless of what criticism he is facing, Bears fans are relieved that Williams has been listed as week-to-week, with Johnson not even officially ruling him out of Chicago’s upcoming contest on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, his backup, Tyson Bagent, is in the concussion protocol, leaving the Bears extremely thin at quarterback.
He’ll no doubt have to endure some more jeers and jokes, but the Bears, and the league as a whole, will be much better once Williams is back on the field and doing his thing.