Caleb Williams footage draws questions
Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears quarterback, drew online criticism after ESPN cameras showed him walking during the national anthem before Chicago hosted the Philadelphia Eagles on September 28 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The footage aired while Mariachi Herencia de México performed before kickoff. Williams was inactive with a right hamstring injury as Bears players, coaches, and staff stood along the sideline during the anthem.
Caleb Williams was inactive Monday
Caleb Williams missed the Philadelphia game because of a right hamstring injury sustained during Chicago’s September 20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. He later left the sideline by cart.
Head Coach Ben Johnson initially described Williams as week-to-week after an MRI. Later reports identified a Grade 2 hamstring strain that doctors estimated could sideline him for 3 to 4 weeks.
Caleb Williams clip spreads online
Caleb Williams became the subject of online criticism after footage circulated showing him walking along the Bears’ sideline during the national anthem. In contrast, others nearby remained standing before the Philadelphia game.
Several social media posts questioned Williams’ movement during the performance. Published coverage focused on his sideline conduct during the anthem while noting separately that a hamstring injury had already ruled him out.
Caleb Williams draws anthem conduct debate
Commentator Armando Salguero criticized Caleb Williams’ movement during the anthem. He cited federal guidance covering conduct during its performance as part of his argument about the sideline footage aired Monday night.
Title 36 of the U.S. Code says most people present should face the flag and stand at attention during the anthem. The provision contains guidance and does not establish an NFL game penalty.
Caleb Williams has not explained footage
Published reports after Monday’s game did not include an explanation from Caleb Williams about his movement during the national anthem. Coverage instead documented the footage and the online response it generated.
The video establishes that Williams walked along the sideline during the performance, but it does not establish his reason for doing so.
Caleb Williams sideline look gets noticed
Caleb Williams also drew social media attention for his clothing at Soldier Field, where photographs showed the sidelined quarterback wearing a hooded top, hat, and dark sunglasses before and during Monday’s game.
Several viewers joked that Williams appeared to be trying to keep a low profile. The comments focused on his appearance while he watched Chicago’s 27-7 victory over Philadelphia from the sideline.
Caleb Williams injury reaction drew scrutiny
Caleb Williams faced online criticism after visibly reacting to his hamstring injury during Chicago’s September 20 loss to Minnesota. Former players and other commentators later defended the quarterback against that response.
Williams was later ruled out against Philadelphia as the Bears managed his recovery. Subsequent reporting identified a Grade 2 hamstring strain, with doctors estimating a possible absence of 3 to 4 weeks.
Case Keenum starts for Chicago
Case Keenum started for Chicago against Philadelphia because Caleb Williams was unavailable with a hamstring injury. Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol on Sunday after missing much of the week’s preparation.
Keenum was 38 and had not appeared in a regular-season NFL game since 2023. He made his first start since December 24, 2023, and directed Head Coach Ben Johnson’s offense Monday night.
Case Keenum opens fast for Bears
Case Keenum led an 11-play, 66-yard opening drive and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III, giving Chicago an early lead against Philadelphia at Soldier Field.
Keenum completed 5 of 6 passes for 45 yards on that first possession. The Bears later expanded their advantage, finishing with a 27-7 victory over the Eagles on Monday night.
Case Keenum adds rushing score
Case Keenum added a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, extending Chicago’s lead to 27-7. The score capped a 13-play Bears possession that lasted more than 8 minutes.
Chicago’s defense forced 3 takeaways, including a T.J. Edwards interception of Jalen Hurts. Keenum finished with 247 passing yards, 2 touchdown passes, 1 rushing score and a 110.8 passer rating.
Fun fact: Chicago got the pick used on Caleb Williams from Carolina, meaning the Bears traded away the 2023 No. 1 pick and received the 2024 No. 1 pick back.
Chicago Bears improve to 2-1
The Chicago Bears held Philadelphia to 7 points, limited Jalen Hurts to 153 passing yards, and opened the second half with 3 straight three-and-outs at Soldier Field during Chicago’s win.
Philadelphia entered the night at 2-0, while Chicago improved to 2-1 with the victory. The result gave the Eagles their first loss and kept both teams at 2-1 after Week 3.
Caleb Williams remains on active roster
Caleb Williams remained listed on Chicago’s active roster after missing the Philadelphia game with his hamstring injury. The Bears had not moved their starting quarterback to injured reserve as of October 2.
Williams entered the week with an uncertain return date. The Bears initially described him as week to week, while later reports said he was expected to miss 3 to 4 weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring injury.
Travis Kelce broke an all-time NFL record without realizing he was even close to it, adding another milestone to a career already defined by postseason production and longevity.
Caleb Williams misses first NFL start
Caleb Williams missed the first regular-season game of his NFL career because of a hamstring injury. The absence ended a run of 36 consecutive regular-season starts for Chicago since his 2024 debut.
Case Keenum became the oldest player in Bears history to score a rushing touchdown at 38 years and 223 days. His 1-yard fourth-quarter run completed Chicago’s scoring in the 27-7 win over Philadelphia.
Close games can turn on one call as much as one play. See why Mahomes roughing penalty draws backlash after Chiefs beat Dolphins.
Caleb Williams’ sideline movement became a bigger discussion than his absence itself. Do you think the criticism was fair or overblown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
