Caleb Williams practices in full and Michael Penix Jr. is expected to start as Bears visit Falcons

Both quarterbacks in Sunday's Bears-Falcons game are trending in the right direction.

Caleb Williams was a full participant in Chicago's walkthrough Wednesday. It is the best sign yet that he will return after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury he suffered on a fourth-quarter scramble in Week 2.

"It's still fluid," coach Ben Johnson said. "But I feel good about the plan that we have in place at this point." A walkthrough is not a full practice so Thursday should give a clearer picture.

Chicago held steady

The Bears went 2-1 without Williams. Case Keenum started in Week 3 and Tyson Bagent struggled in last week's 31-7 loss at Green Bay. Johnson said health is the top priority for all three quarterbacks with the Bears facing the Patriots on Thursday night Oct. 22. Chicago will also be without pass rusher Montez Sweat, who is serving a two-game suspension.

Penix 'trending'

In Atlanta, coach Kevin Stefanski said Michael Penix Jr. will start as long as everything goes according to plan. "It's trending," Stefanski said. He would not share details of the rib injury but said Penix is "feeling better." Penix will be limited in practice to start the week.

Penix was hurt when he was sacked with 27 seconds left in regulation of Sunday night's 30-23 overtime loss to Baltimore. He could not return and Tua Tagovailoa's interception in overtime ended the game. "I hated it," Penix said. "I hated that I couldn't get back in that game."

Why it matters

Atlanta's offense went from the lowest scoring in the league in Weeks 1 and 2 without Penix to the highest scoring in Weeks 3 and 4 after he returned from last year's knee injury. At 2-3 the Falcons sit just behind Carolina in the NFC South with San Francisco and Tampa Bay up after Chicago.

Kickoff is noon Central on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on FOX.