Bears placed RB Damien Williams on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Chicago Bears are wearing thin at running back as Damien Williams has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Thursday.

With starter David Montgomery already sidelined with a knee sprain, where he’s eligible to return as soon as two weeks from now, that leaves just rookie Khalil Herbert and Ryan Nall as the only running backs on the active roster.

Herbert, who led the Bears with 75 rushing yards last week against the Raiders, will be the No. 1 guy as Chicago faces off against the rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Look for him to get significant touches in place of both Montgomery and Williams.

The Bears could and likely will activate Artavis Pierce from the practice squad on game day, where he’d serve as the third-string running back.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the timing of it suggests Williams will be out for Sunday’s game.

If Williams is vaccinated, he would need two negative COVID tests at least 24 hours apart to be eligible to return to the team. If he’s unvaccinated and has the virus, he’ll isolate for a period of 10 days and will be permitted to return if asymptomatic. He’ll be subject to a five-day quarantine period if they have close contact with an infected individual.

Just because Williams is on the reserve/COVID-19 list doesn’t mean he’s tested positive. He could be a close contact.

Still, at this point, it appears to Herbert’s time to get starter reps against the Packers on Sunday.