Are Caleb Williams, Bears Starters Playing in Preseason Week 2 vs. Bengals?

The Bears opted to sit all of their offensive starters and played some ones on defense in preseason Week 1. Here's what we know for preseason Week 2.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Chicago Bears will play their second exhibition game on Saturday evening when they meet the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Ohio in preseason Week 2.

Last week, the Bears did not play any starters on offense but we did see some of the ones on defense take the field, like Gervon Dexter, Dayo Odeyingbo, Devin Bush, Cam Lewis and Dillon Thieneman.

Will the Bears take the same approach against the Bengals in preseason Week 2? Or could Chicago opt to play even more or less starters than they did against the Cleveland Browns?

Here's what we know.

Will Bears play Caleb Williams, starters in preseason Week 2?

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

UPDATE: Ben Johnson has confirmed that Caleb Williams will be playing tonight, and based on our past updates below, he will be surrounded by a good amount of starters.

Ben Johnson just officially announced that Caleb is playing...
"It will be good for him to go thru the night game routine. He's prepared to play as long as he needs to for our offense."

— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) August 22, 2026

END OF UPDATE

UPDATE: Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports notes that Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo, T.J. Edwards, Grady Jarrett, Tyrique Stevenson, Austin Booker and D'Andre Swift are not playing, as all are in street clothes on the sideline.

Meanwhile, Hammond adds that Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland and Kalif Raymond are in uniform, as is the Bears' starting offensive line outside of Thuney.

We might see a good amount of Bears starters on offense after all, but that hasn't been completely confirmed yet.

END OF UPDATE

UPDATE: Williams is suited up and on the field with about 40 minutes to go before kickoff, so it appears there is a chance Chicago's starting QB will indeed play tonight.

Caleb Williams suited up @fox32news pic.twitter.com/eajJ0TNTB7

— Devan Kaney (@Devan_Kaney) August 22, 2026

We should have a definitive answer soon enough.

END OF UPDATE

We do not have a definitive answer to this question, but chances are the Bears will take a similar approach and sit Caleb Williams and the vast majority, if not all, of the starters this week.

Last week, head coach Ben Johnson cited the workload the team gets at joint practice with the Bengals as a factor in his decision, and by all accounts the Bears got in plenty of work in during the session.

"But we have a plan in place of the reps, the workload we want to get as a team between the joint practice with Cincinnati and the game reps as well," Johnson said.

Johnson also made it clear that he does not need to see Williams at all this preseason.

"But do I need to see Caleb Williams in the preseason? No, I don't," Johnson said.

Which starters could play this week?

Chicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) walks on the field during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On the offensive side of the ball, Braxton Jones is a projected starter to watch for possible reps on Saturday.

Earlier in the week, Johnson said that the left tackle competition was still open, so he might want to get a look at Jones, who was working his way back from an injury and didn't play in the preseason opener.

"As far as I'm concerned, the competition remains wide open and we'll continue to play that one out," Johnson said of left tackle.

Jones has long been considered the favorite in the competition, as he has received the majority of reps at left tackle with the ones during the offseason. However, his starting spot is now in danger thanks to the rapid recovery from Ozzy Trapilo, who is likely to return to his starting job when ready to play.

Other than Jones, we don't anticipate any other ones on offense taking the field. We could, however, see some starters on the defensive side of the ball.

The Bears might want to get Thieneman a bit more snaps under his belt ahead of his first season, but veterans like Lewis, Dexter, Odeyingbo and Bush, all of whom played last week, are now less likely to suit up because of the Thursday joint practice reps.

We should have a better idea of which starters are and aren't playing near kickoff, which is 6 p.m. CT.