The Chicago Bears officially welcomed Caleb Williams and Kyler Gordon back on a busy day of roster activity as they prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.
Williams has missed the past three games due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Not only is he back following the layoff, but he will start for the Bears against the Falcons.
Gordon has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list since July.
Bears Welcome Caleb Williams, Kyler Gordon Back to Lead News Roundup
Caleb Williams & Kyler Gordon Return to Lead Bears News
Both will provide significant lifts for the 3-2 Bears, though Gordon will not play a full allotment of snaps in his first game back.
They were not the only moves the club made, either.
The Bears parted ways with safety Xavier Woods and replacing him with cornerback Nick McCloud on the 53-man roster. The moves could be precursors to Woods replacing McCloud on the practice squad.
Additionally, the Bears elevated linebacker Buddy Johnson and running back Zavier Scott.
Starting defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (quad) landed on injured reserve, meaning he is out until at least Week 11 with the Bears Week 10 bye.
Falcons Call On Reinforcements
Just like the Bears with Gordon and Williams, the Falcons are getting some reinforcements for this contest.
“The Atlanta Falcons have signed Bralen Trice to their active roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears,” AtlantaFalcons.com’s Tori McElhaney & Will McFadden wrote on October 17.
Trice was a teammate of Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze in college at Washington.
“In other roster news, the Falcons have signed safety Jammie Robinson to the practice squad,” McElhaney and McFadden wrote. “Atlanta is also elevating defensive end Drake Jackson.”
This game will mark Falcons defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr.’s first against the Bears following the trade that sent him to Atlanta. The same is true for former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham.
Cunningham is now the GM in Atlanta.
Grady Jarrett will be facing the Falcons for the first time as a Bears player, as could Clark Phillips, while rookie DT Jordan van den Berg played his college ball at Georgia Tech.
Former NFL Scout Gets Honest About Bears
The Bears face a humbling reality at 3-2, with both of their losses coming against the NFC North, and having yet to face the fourth team in the division this season.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks ranked the Bears third among the group.
“Credit Ben Johnson for keeping the Bears squarely in this race without his franchise quarterback on the field for the past three games. The loss of Caleb Williams (who’s officially questionable for Week 6 with his hamstring injury) might have slowed Chicago’s momentum, but the offensive wizard found a way to scheme things up for a pair of wins with Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent under center,” Brooks, a former player and NFL scout, wrote on October 16, commending the run game, too.
“If this entire group can get right at the same time, watch out. Defensively, Dennis Allen has work to do as the play-caller of a unit that lacks star power, relying on turnovers and timely stops to get the job done. Sporadic defensive efforts ultimately could make the Bears a one-and-done squad in the playoffs, but their takeaway prowess could also spark a Super Bowl run with a potent offense built to cash in on extra possessions.”
The Bears’ next divisional matchup is in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions, the only NFC North club they have yet to face this season. That matchup could prove to be a litmus test for the Bears as far as the division race goes.
They have plenty of more pressing matters to worry about before then, though, starting with the Falcons in Week 6.
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