What we learned from the Chicago Bears, including the latest on Caleb Williams and Montez Sweat

A little more than a year ago, the Chicago Bears were smacked in a 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 2. Things went haywire in coach Ben Johnson’s return to Ford Field, and the Bears fell to 0-2.

It would’ve been easy for that loss to an NFC North rival to bleed into the following week. But Johnson’s team responded to beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, starting a run of four consecutive victories and nine in 10 games.

Flash forward to the present. The Bears are coming off a 31-7 beatdown by the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. They’re in a similar spot in which they need to put a disappointing effort behind them.

Rarely have Johnson’s teams been run off the field, but they were Sunday.

“We need to take our performance last week personally,” defensive tackle and team co-captain Grady Jarrett said Wednesday. “That’s not our best version of ourselves. And we absolutely need to put a better product out there.”

The players returned to Halas Hall on Wednesday to begin preparations for Sunday’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“We’re going to get right back on the horse and we’re going to keep working,” Johnson said.

Here’s what we learned Wednesday.

1. What’s the latest on Caleb Williams?

Johnson remained mum on his plans at quarterback. He did, however, note that Williams would be listed as a full participant on Wednesday’s injury report. Because the Bears are holding a walk-through, not a full practice, the injury report will be an estimate.

It’s a promising sign for Williams, who has been out since suffering a strained hamstring in Week 2.

Even so, Johnson said the plan is not set in stone. Williams returned to practice for the first time Friday in a limited capacity. The team likely needs to see him practice a few more times before it can confidently say he’s good to go.

“It’s still fluid,” Johnson said. “But I feel good about the plan that we have in place at this point.”

Johnson provided no clarity on what the depth chart might look like behind Williams either. Backup Tyson Bagent started his second consecutive game last week, but Johnson pulled Bagent in the fourth quarter in favor of third-stringer Case Keenum.

Both Bagent and Keenum turned the ball over twice in Green Bay. Bagent has been the Bears backup since 2023, but Keenum played well in a Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and the fact Johnson hasn’t committed to either one leaves open the possibility there could be a shake-up in the pecking order behind Williams.

“I put our struggles on myself more than anything else from the game the other day,” Johnson said. “I have to do a better job making sure we get in a rhythm on offense, regardless of who’s playing the quarterback position.”

All eyes will be on Williams and — maybe more aptly — on the team’s injury report as the week progresses. Initial reports suggested a three- to four-week recovery for Williams. The hamstring injury has kept him out of three games now, and a potential return this weekend in Atlanta would fit into that timeline.

2. Ben Johnson is ‘disappointed’ with Montez Sweat’s suspension but adds little else.

The NFL suspended Sweat for two games — beginning with the Week 6 game in Atlanta — for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

The loss of the Bears’ highest-paid player ($25.1 million salary-cap figure) and top defensive end puts a serious dent in their pass rush, especially after Dayo Odeyingbo exited Sunday’s game with a quadriceps injury.

“Obviously we’re disappointed whenever we lose a player of his caliber for multiple games,” Johnson said of Sweat. “But really not a whole lot for me to add on to that.”

Johnson said he hadn’t spoked to Sweat since Tuesday and wasn’t sure if Sweat would appeal the penalty.

“We want all of our guys available and playing in ballgames to help us win,” Johnson said. “That’s really what it is. Next man up and we keep it moving.”

Austin Booker, Sweat’s main running mate on the edge, had two sacks against the Packers and has four on the season, all in the last four games.

The Bears activated Shemar Turner from the reserve/physically unable to perform list Tuesday, putting him on track to make his season debut Sunday.

“Shemar’s certainly playing into the equation, we hope, now that he’s on the 53(-man roster),” Johnson said. “You’ve got a guy like Booker who’s certainly on the up right now in terms of snap count and production, so that’s good to see.”

Regarding Odeyingbo’s injury, Johnson said, “We don’t feel like it’s serious enough to warrant (injured reserve), and yet it is likely he’ll miss some time.”

Johnson said he feels strongly about the defensive line’s depth, given what he saw in training camp.

James Lynch started against the Packers, though Booker played 44 snaps to Lynch’s 27. Daniel Hardy has played only on special teams, but coaches saw improvement in his get-off over the summer. Undrafted rookie Jayden Loving has been waiting in the wings and is a candidate to be active for his first game of the season.

3. Will this be Gervon Dexter Sr.’s revenge game?

The Bears had a choice entering this season: Sign Dexter to an extension or let him play out the final year of his rookie contract.

They chose Door No. 3 and traded the 2023 second-round pick to the Falcons on Aug. 30 for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Falcons signed Dexter to a 4-year, $78 million contract Sept. 30.

“He’s a phenomenal football player,” Johnson said. “We know that about him. I think it was a win-win for both sides in terms of him getting a fresh start and going down to a really good style of defense that matches his skill set.”

Through five games in Atlanta, Dexter and linemate Brandon Dorlus each have generated 20 pressures, tied for the league lead among defensive tackles, according to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats.

Dexter had a career-high six sacks with the Bears last season, but his pressure rate has been better with the Falcons (16.1% versus 10.5% in 2025). Now he’ll get a chance to chase whichever quarterback the Bears put behind center.

“He’s playing hard, he’s getting out of the stack, he’s chasing the ball down, which is really the M.O. of their entire defense,” Johnson said. “I mean, these guys fly around to another level.”

The game also will be a homecoming for Jarrett, an Atlanta-area native who played 10 seasons for the Falcons before joining the Bears last year. He was Dexter’s running mate at defensive tackle during their one year together in Chicago.

“I talked to Gervon when he signed his extension,” Jarrett said. “I was super happy for him, happy for his family. Loved my time here with him and excited for him, another young player that’s just going to continue to get better. Got a fresh start in Atlanta, so I couldn’t be happier for him.

“But as far as talking every day, we both are getting ready for an opponent this week, so we ain’t breaking bread or talking every day.”