Caleb Williams tweaks ankle on final play of Bears’ loss to Cards

by time news usa

GLENDALE, ​Ariz. — Bears ‍rookie quarterback Caleb Williams hurt his left ankle late in Chicago’s 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday but appears to have avoided ‍a serious injury.

“I landed wrong and ⁢just kind ⁣of tweaked it and ⁢ [on] the last play, the dude grabbed my ankle and gator rolled,” Williams said. “Tried ​to get⁢ off of it because when you‍ stay on it, that’s⁢ when bad stuff starts to happen and [it] breaks and all of⁤ that. ⁤Tried to just ​let my body go ⁢so I could fall and roll with him.”

Williams got twisted up by Arizona’s defensive front after completing a 6-yard⁢ pass to Keenan Allen on the final play of‍ the game. The quarterback got up slowly and walked off the field with a noticeable‍ limp.

After the game, Williams said he was⁢ “OK.” Coach Matt Eberflus echoed a similar sentiment.

“He limped off there a little bit,”⁣ Eberflus said. “When​ he⁤ came in, ‌ [he] looked to be fine. We’ll check him in the ​morning.”

Despite⁢ trailing by 20 points when Chicago’s offense took the field ⁢for ​its‌ final drive with 2:15 remaining, four of the Bears’‌ last five plays were ‍called passes. Eberflus​ said the Bears ‍kept Williams in the game despite it being a blowout because they were “getting work and getting timing on ⁣the‍ two-minute operation” for the offense.

When asked⁣ whether he felt he should have ‍been playing in a⁣ game that was ⁣already decided, Williams said it was not ‌his decision.

“You fight ⁤to ‌the end of the game, if you’re ‌in the game,” Williams said. “If not, [the] ‍ coach makes ‌a decision‌ like that. You have to deal with it ​and figure out the‌ next steps.‌ But yeah, not my decision.”

Sunday marked⁢ the first time in ‌eight games the Bears ​did not ⁣score ‍a touchdown. ⁣Williams completed 22 of 41 pass attempts for 217 yards with no turnovers and a 68.9 passer rating.

After back-to-back losses in Washington and​ Arizona, Eberflus acknowledged⁢ that ​Chicago’s offensive issues ‌fall on him.

“[I take] full responsibility for that,” Eberflus said. “We’ll work with the offensive staff tomorrow ​morning as we watch this tape tonight⁤ and find answers. Find answers for ‍running the ball, first. Making sure you do that and setting everything off‍ of that. Then making sure we have ​good actions ⁤off of that to⁣ start. On ​first and second down.

“Then … making sure our protection is ⁢clean. ‍When you protect your quarterback — and our quarterback’s a good quarterback — he can get the ball ‌down the field ​and do a good job⁣ there.”

Interview: An Analysis of Caleb⁤ Williams’ Injury and Its Impact on the⁤ Bears

Time.news Editor: Welcome back to⁢ our conversation series, where​ we dive deep into the latest happenings in sports. Today, I have the⁤ pleasure of speaking with Dr. Samantha⁤ Rivera, a⁤ sports medicine expert with‌ years ‌of experience in treating and analyzing athlete injuries. Thanks for joining us, Dr. Rivera!

Dr. Samantha Rivera: Thank you ⁤for having me!⁢ I’m excited to discuss Caleb Williams and⁢ the potential implications of his recent injury.

Editor: So,⁣ Caleb Williams hurt his left ankle during ⁣the Bears’ game against the Arizona Cardinals. Can you explain what‌ happens to an athlete when they “tweak” an ankle during ⁤a game?

Dr.‌ Rivera: ‌Absolutely. When an ⁣athlete⁣ lands awkwardly or gets⁢ twisted​ up in a player’s tackle, it ‌can ‌lead to ‍a sprain, which is a stretching ​or‌ tearing of the ligaments around the⁤ ankle. In Williams’​ case, he described the ⁣injury as ⁢a “tweak,” suggesting that it⁢ might‌ be a mild sprain, which often happens when the​ foot rolls ‌inward.

Editor: ⁢ Williams mentioned trying to roll with the fall to avoid worse injury.⁢ How does this instinct play a role in injury prevention during gameplay?

Dr. ⁢Rivera: That’s a ‍great point. Athletes‍ are often trained to ‍protect themselves in‌ such situations. By rolling or allowing the body to fall more naturally, they can minimize the ⁤risk of severe injuries, ⁢like fractures. ​The body instinctively reacts to protect vulnerable parts during moments of‍ high intensity, which ⁣can be crucial in reducing damage.

Editor: Coach Eberflus stated that ​they will ⁤check on Williams in the morning for a clearer assessment. What should⁣ they look for ‍in terms of swelling or mobility?

Dr. Rivera: They will⁣ need to observe for swelling, bruising, and ​overall range of motion. Swelling‍ can indicate​ the severity of a sprain, while​ limited mobility could suggest ‍a more serious issue. If Williams can move his ankle without pain and there’s minimal swelling, that’s ‍typically a positive sign.

Editor: If we assume⁣ it is ‍a⁤ mild injury, how‍ might this‌ affect the Bears’ season moving forward?

Dr. ​Rivera: If Williams is⁢ only facing a minor setback, he could return⁣ relatively⁢ quickly, depending⁢ on how the medical staff ⁣evaluates his recovery progress. However, if ‍he misses games, ⁣it could ‌significantly impact team ​dynamics and performance,​ given that he’s a rookie‍ quarterback. Consistency⁤ is crucial ⁢for development in‌ such a pivotal position.

Editor: It’s ‍fascinating to think about how​ one injury⁤ can ripple through a team. What advice would you ​give ‌to the Bears’ coaching staff regarding managing player health?

Dr. Rivera: Prioritizing comprehensive medical⁣ assessments ‌and open communication with the player ‌is key. They should ensure that Caleb feels​ comfortable ⁣reporting any pain​ or discomfort, and ‌not rush⁢ his return to play. This is⁤ especially important for a young player with a lot of ‍future ahead of him.

Editor: Great insights,‍ Dr. Rivera. As a final thought,⁢ what can fans take‌ away from this situation about player health and safety in ‍the ⁤NFL?

Dr. Rivera: ​ Fans should remember that athletes are not just players; they’re individuals whose health can be compromised in the heat ⁢of the game. ‌The⁤ NFL is making strides in⁣ player safety with protocols⁢ and medical staff ‍on hand, ‌but fans should advocate for ‍and ⁤support their⁢ favorite players’ health over their ​immediate​ performance on ⁢the field.

Editor: Truly an important message. Thank ⁣you, Dr. Rivera, for your expertise today.‌ We’ll keep an eye on Caleb Williams’ recovery as ⁢the Bears‍ navigate the rest of the season.

Dr. Rivera: Thank you ⁣for this discussion!⁣ I hope ‌for a smooth recovery for ⁤Williams‍ and a successful season for the Bears.

You may also like

Leave a Comment