For all the talk that left tackle Chris Williams’ back injury is nothing serious, it sure is taking a long time to heal. Williams, the Bears’ first-round pick, has been out since July 24 when he left practice due to stiffness in his lower back.

Hopes were high that Williams could come in and start right away at left tackle — no easy feat for a rookie by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, as he missed his 13th straight practice on Monday, the optimism that he’ll be at left tackle on opening day has begun to fade.

The next question presumes to be, “Is this a bigger injury than it’s being made out to be?” Williams came up lame on only his first day of practice, during non-contract drills of all things. If I’m the Bears, I’m a little worried about the way the beginning of the Williams era has played itself out.

Then, there are the rumors about a possible neck injury Williams may have suffered while at Vanderbilt (although Williams denies it). Even if the rumors are unfounded, it hints at how the extended length of Williams’ absence should be cause for concern.

The funny thing is Williams has said how if he sustained the same injury during a game, he could have gone back in and played. If this were true, would he sit out 11 days of practice afterward?

John St. Clair is currently slated as the starting left tackle, per the Bears’ first depth chart of the summer.