GREEN BAY, Wis. — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will sit out his third consecutive game Sunday when the Bears face the Green Bay Packers.
Williams has not appeared since hurting his right hamstring in Chicago’s 9-3 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 20. Although he practiced on a limited basis Friday and was initially listed as questionable, the Bears made Williams inactive before Sunday’s game.
Chicago has prevailed in both games Williams has missed. Case Keenum guided the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, while Tyson Bagent started the 23-12 victory against the New York Jets. Bagent had been preparing throughout the week to make his expected start against Green Bay.
Green Bay activated veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler, clearing the way for his Packers debut. Zeitler joined the team Sept. 30. The Packers’ inactive list includes guards Jacob Monk, Aaron Banks and Donovan Jennings, along with defensive tackle Anthony Campbell.
Chicago also ruled out running back Kyle Monangai, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, defensive linemen Jamree Kromah and Jayden Loving, and offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo.
The Bears had already declared Monangai unavailable because of thumb and toe injuries, while Elliott was sidelined by a quadriceps issue. Green Bay ruled out running back Chris Brooks on Friday.
Brooks was moved to injured reserve Saturday and will be required to miss at least the Packers’ next four games.
Before kickoff, the Packers paid tribute to former Bears coach Mike Ditka with a moment of silence during the opening ceremony.
Need to know
Chicago (3-1) at Green Bay (2-2)
When/where to watch: Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT on Fox.
Latest odds: Bears favored by 1 1/2 points.
Against the spread: Bears 3-1; Packers 1-3.
Last week: Chicago defeated the New York Jets 23-12 at home, while Green Bay edged Tampa Bay 17-14 on the road.
Last meeting: The Bears beat the Packers 31-27 in an NFC wild-card playoff game in Chicago on Jan. 10.
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Series record: Green Bay leads 109-98-6.
Matchup to watch
Bears running game vs. Packers run defense: Chicago enters the matchup with the NFL’s top rushing attack, averaging 196.3 yards per game. Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift have shared the workload, but Monangai will miss Sunday’s game because of thumb and toe injuries. Green Bay has surrendered 139.3 rushing yards per game, ranking 28th in the league, and opposing backs have been especially effective in the Packers’ last two home contests. Derrick Henry ran for 216 yards — the most ever by a visiting player at Lambeau Field — in Baltimore’s 41-24 victory last season. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson followed with 194 rushing yards in the Falcons’ 35-14 win at Green Bay earlier this season.
Stats and stuff
– Chicago tops the NFL in both total offense, averaging 429.0 yards per game, and time of possession, at 36:36.
– Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman has led the team in tackles in each of his first four games as a rookie.
– Chicago’s defense was dominant on third down in its most recent game, holding the Jets without a conversion on all seven attempts.
– The Bears have produced an NFL-best 14 possessions that lasted at least 10 plays.
– The Bears have an NFL-best turnover margin of plus-23 since Johnson’s arrival in 2025.
– Packers QB Jordan Love has 13 touchdown passes and two interceptions in seven games against the Bears, including last season’s playoff loss.
– In Green Bay’s victory at Tampa Bay, S Evan Williams became the first Packer to have at least seven tackles, multiple passes defended, a sack and an interception in a game since Morgan Burnett did it against Carolina in 2011.
– Green Bay has won its past eight October games.
– The Packers have an NFL-high 86 penalty yards per game.
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AP freelance reporter Gene Chamberlain contributed to this report.
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