Caleb Williams injury update: NBC broadcast reveals Bears QB hit hand in opening quarter

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams picked up an injury to keep an eye on during Sunday evening’s divisional round playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. According to NBC sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung, Williams was seen grabbing at his throwing hand.

That occurred after Williams threw an interception on fourth down of Chicago’s opening drive. His hand appeared to collide with Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner on the play, and Williams looked in pain after. However, it doesn’t appear to be too serious in nature, however, as Williams remained in the game.

“Yeah, guys, we saw Caleb Williams clutching his throwing hand after he left the field,” Hartung said. “You see this hand to hand collision he had with the Rams’ Kobie Turner there. When he came off to the sideline, he didn’t receive any medical attention. He just shook it off. As you can see there, they threw a paper towel around him, handed him his tablet, and he started preparing for this next drive.”

Williams would appear to be all right, as he led the Bears to a touchdown on the very next drive, completing a three-yard pass to DJ Moore for the score. The QB is 11-of-16 passing for 123 yards and one touchdown with one interception as the game is tied at 7 with about five minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bears are looking to make the NFC Championship for the first time since 2010. They’ll need Williams to be at his best in order to get there, so it will be worth monitoring to see how the injury affects him as the game goes on.

Terry McAulay says officials missed roughing the passer penalty on Caleb Williams vs. Rams

Not only was Williams slightly hurt on the interception, but NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay claimed officials missed a blow to Williams’ head. He argued that the Rams should have been called for roughing the passer, which would have wiped out that interception as well.

“I believe it is (roughing the passer),” McAulay said on the broadcast. “Forcible contact to the head, neck area is a foul for roughing the passer. Now, certainly that … is subjective. Officials on the field didn’t think it was. I believe that it is. It should have been a foul, 15-yard penalty.”

Regardless, Williams appears to be fine and there’s still plenty of time for him to make up for the interception. He’ll look to be sharp the rest of the way as he hopes to lead the Bears to a victory.