Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Chicago Bears fans have already spent a couple of days trying to cope with their recent loss to the Green Bay Packers, but there is no better way to press onward than to look forward to the impending return of quarterback Caleb Williams.
After the loss to Green Bay, head coach Ben Johnson admitted it'll "be close" for Williams this coming week, as the Bears travel to take on the Atlanta Falcons.
But, there is one specific clue that will give us the answer we're desperately wanting to know.
Currently, DraftKings has the Bears favored with a spread of -3.0 (this is as of Tuesday, with lines subject to change, of course).
The current over/under is also set at 49.5.
There's your answer. Vegas is banking on Caleb Williams playing against Atlanta.
Let's dig in a little deeper, though.
It's more clear than ever that Caleb Williams returns for the Bears in Week 6
With Tyson Bagent under center, the Bears were only able to muster 23 points against the New York Jets.
Forget all of the yardage piled up. Bagent's play in that game was not perfect by any means. He still made some questionable decisions.
Fast forward to the Packers game and, well, we know how that went. The Bears were only able to score a measly seven points against Green Bay, with Bagent making his second straight start.
The Falcons have been one of the league's surprises this year, after the return of Michael Penix Jr. provided a spark. Atlanta's defensive line has played shockingly well, even despite being shorthanded at times. All in all, they look like they could take home the NFC South crown.
The Bears, with Tyson Bagent starting, would very well be underdogs in this one based on how each team is playing and the injury questions in Chicago, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
In betting circles, the home team is usually given three points when it comes to the spread. So, if the Bears are currently favored by 3.0 points, that means, without the added three points for Atlanta being the home team, Chicago would actually be favored by 6.0.
I don't see a world where the Bears are favored, on the road, with Bagent under center and having played as poorly as he did last week.
Now, even if Johnson were to make a change and go with Case Keenum instead of Bagent, I still don't know if the Bears would be favored by as much. Throwing Keenum under center might make it closer to 1.5 rather than 3.0.
But, that's digging in quite deeper.
The point, here, is that Vegas very well could be thinking this week is the week we will see Williams return for the Bears. And, it makes sense on a couple of fronts.
First off, this coming weekend would put Williams precisely four weeks out from injury. And the initial timeline for his recovery was set at 3 to 4 weeks.
Right on schedule.
Secondly, though -- and we've covered this a couple of times already -- Williams was out there before the Week 5 game, at Lambeau, warming up and getting a throwing session in. He looked pretty nimble and as though he was getting closer to being 100 percent.
Read more:Ben Johnson's vague QB answer sets off a Caleb Williams-sized alarm
So, with all of these factors stacking up at the moment, I think it is relatively safe to assume that Bears fans are going to see the return of No. 18 in Atlanta this weekend.
And all will be right in the world, once more.
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