CHICAGO () — The Chicago Bears’ home opener ended in frustration Sunday as rain poured over Soldier Field and fans left concerned about quarterback Caleb Williams, who sustained a hamstring injury.
Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and blocked a crucial late field-goal attempt as the Minnesota Vikings defeated Williams and the Bears 9-3 on a soggy Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Jones ran for 105 yards, helping Minnesota start 2-0 for the first time since opening the 2024 season with five straight victories. Will Reichard made three field goals, including a 39-yarder with 1:09 remaining.
Williams left the game with a right hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter, quieting the rain-soaked crowd of 58,914 at Soldier Field.
Tyson Bagent took over for Williams, but the ensuing drive ended when Isaiah Rodgers blocked Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field-goal attempt, allowing Minnesota to hold on to its 6-3 advantage.
Minnesota’s defense, led by Dallas Turner, held Chicago to 297 total yards. Turner recorded two of the Vikings’ four sacks, while Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted an ill-advised Williams throw in the opening quarter.
The Bears (1-1) had exploded for 291 rushing yards and 552 total yards in their 59-37 Week 1 win at Carolina, the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history.
Williams was injured on a scramble deep in Minnesota territory with roughly 7 1/2 minutes remaining. The third-year quarterback, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more in the opener, needed help leaving the field.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was helped from the wet Soldier Field turf during the rainy afternoon.
The 24-year-old Williams had a towel over his head as he was taken to the locker room in a cart. He later removed it, raised his right arm and tried to lift the spirits of the disappointed 58,914 fans along the sideline.
Williams completed 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards and an interception. He also ran five times for 42 yards.
“I mean you could kind of see in real time. I’m actually happy it’s nothing with the knee,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “That was my first inclination. But yeah, a hamstring can be pretty damaging as well. We’ll see how bad it is tomorrow and we’ll go from there. It’s quickly you’ve got to turn the page.”
Bagent completed a pass to D’Andre Swift for 1 yard before throwing incomplete on third down. Johnson then opted for Santos, whose 23-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Rodgers.
After Carson Wentz guided Minnesota into position for Reichard’s third field goal, Chicago mounted one final push. Bagent connected with Rome Odunze for 21 yards and Luther Burden for 8, moving the ball to the Vikings’ 12-yard line.
Two incomplete passes followed, and Turner sacked Bagent on the final play to end the Bears’ comeback attempt.
Wentz finished 11 of 20 for 143 yards, while Justin Jefferson caught three passes for 55 yards. Wentz started because Kyler Murray was still progressing through the NFL concussion protocol.
With Chicago trailing 6-3, Williams moved the Bears to first-and-goal at the 1-yard line on their opening drive of the second half. Swift then fumbled after a hit from Jalen Redmond, and Rodgers recovered for Minnesota (2-0).
The teams traded field goals on their opening possessions. Jefferson’s 30-yard catch helped set up Reichard’s 35-yarder, while Williams’ 19-yard run sparked Chicago’s drive to Santos’ 50-yard field goal.
Fans react to Williams injury, Bears loss; doctor provides insight
When Williams was carted off in the fourth quarter after suffering the hamstring injury, trainers rushed to his side as he struggled to get upright.
“It was probably something serious,” fan Bobby Nesby said. “I’m just praying it’s not.”
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Riff of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth watched the injury live.
“I think we’re all fearing the worst,” Riff said. “He’s the critical piece of, probably, the team that we’ve been most optimistic about for a long, long time.”
“This was, really, sort of an overstriding-type injury, and that is classic for a hamstring strain,” he said.
The moment sent Bears fans into disbelief as their star quarterback left the game.
“When we saw him getting kind of helped off the field, I think our minds went to, ‘Is this the Madden curse?'” fan Sam Razi said.
ESPN reports that Williams will undergo imaging on his right hamstring Monday.
Riff said the rehabilitation plan will likely last for weeks and could require crutches.
“The hope is that within, you know, two to three weeks, we might see him kind of training with the guys,” Riff said.
Williams’ injury overshadowed the Bears’ 9-3 loss to the Vikings. At times, both teams appeared to struggle on a wet and slippery Soldier Field.
“You saw everybody slipping and sliding on the field,” fan Julie Zhu told said. “They were having trouble, obviously, catching the ball because it was so slippery.”
Zhu and her family were among the thousands in the stands. They were wearing ponchos.
“[It] comes every which way, and then the ponchos go flying, and it gets in everybody’s way. There’s [an] obstructed view, but at least it wasn’t pouring,” she said.
Fans are now left hoping Williams will return to play as the season gets started.
“Caleb, if you can hear me, we all love you so much,” fan Connor Radtke said. “As long as he’s OK and he gets back out there at some point, we got your back, brother.”
The Associated Press contribute to this report.
