The last time Michael Penix Jr. and Caleb Williams shared a football field, they combined for 94 points in a 2023 shootout between Washington and USC.
The next time could be Sunday, with Penix removed from the Falcons’ injury report and Williams trending the same direction as the Bears travel to Atlanta for Week 6.
Atlanta (2-3) squandered an opportunity for a third straight prime-time victory on Sunday night, blowing a late lead en route to a 30-23 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Adding insult to injury was the overtime absence of Penix, who exited in the fourth quarter with a rib injury.
The oft-injured former eighth overall draft pick has led an offensive charge since making his season debut on Sept. 24. The Falcons didn’t take a snap in the red zone through two games before Penix returned from a partially torn ACL.
Penix, who led Washington to a 52-42 win over Williams and USC in 2023 before the quarterbacks were drafted seven picks apart in 2024, has thrown for 719 yards while helping Atlanta average more than 34 points per game since the team’s disastrous start to the season. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix looked like himself in practice late in the week.
Williams is not a sure thing to start Sunday but practiced without physical limitations Thursday and Friday. He wore a sleeve on his right leg but said he feels recovered from a torn hamstring.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Friday the call on Williams’ game-day status won’t be made until the team is able to gauge his response to back-to-back workouts. The last thing Johnson wants at this point in the season is a setback by rushing Williams’ return.
Since Williams’ injury, Chicago (3-2) has gone with Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent in relief. The two backups combined to throw three interceptions in a 31-7 loss to rival Green Bay last week. Johnson has faith in his team to bounce back, regardless of who leads the team under center in Atlanta.
“I’m hopeful we’ll have more clarity at the end of the day today,” Johnson said Friday after practice. “He looked good (Thursday) for one practice, but we got to be able to stack a few back-to-back. He got some good work in on Wednesday, it’s part of the plan and he’s on track right now.”
Williams joined defensive backs Kyler Gordon (calf) and Tyrique Stevenson Jr. (hip) as questionable on the Friday injury report. Running back Kyle Monangai (thumb/toe) is out, as are linebackers T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and Keyshaun Elliott (quadricep) and defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (quadricep).
Chicago and Atlanta are the league’s top two rushing offenses, having compiled 866 and 834 yards on the ground, respectively. Falcons star Bijan Robinson has been held to less than 100 all-purpose yards just once through five games, presenting a serious test for a Bears defense that ranks ninth with 96 rushing yards allowed per game.
“We’ve got a big challenge coming up in terms of the running game,” Johnson said. “This is an elite running game led by a guy that might be leading the charge for MVP right now.”
Falcons cornerback C.J. Henderson (groin) is out and edge Za’Darius Smith (neck/concussion) is questionable.
–Field Level Media
