Bears-Packers game in Week 5 moved to 1 p.m. ET kickoff

Coverage from Sports Illustrated, WLUK, CBS Sports, NBC Sports and The New York Times reports that the NFL has moved the Chicago Bears versus Green Bay Packers game to a 1 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff for Week 5. The shift places the rivalry in the early Sunday window on Fox, removing it from the later prime‑afternoon slot it originally held. The league said the recent injury to quarterback Caleb Williams prompted the change, aligning the broadcast schedule with the updated competitive picture.

Reports emphasize the broader flex impact. CBS Sports noted the Bears‑Packers contest was “bumped out of the prime afternoon slot,” while NBC Sports confirmed the new 1 p.m. start. The New York Times described the move to the “early Sunday window on Fox.” At the same time, ninersnation.com and Yahoo Sports said the Seattle Seahawks‑San Francisco 49ers game was also flexed into a more prominent slot, reflecting the league’s response to Williams’ injury.

The NFL’s flex scheduling system allows the league to shift games between time slots as the season unfolds, aiming to protect marquee matchups and respond to unexpected developments. Moving the Bears‑Packers rivalry—a consistently high‑rated game—into the early window preserves its national exposure while accounting for the loss of a star quarterback. Caleb Williams, the 49ers’ starter, suffered an injury that triggered the adjustment, and the early Sunday window is a traditional slot for games expected to draw strong audiences.

Upcoming coverage will monitor the final kickoff times for all Week 5 flexed games and any further adjustments announced before the weekend. Updates on Caleb Williams’ health and the 49ers’ quarterback situation are likely to influence additional scheduling moves. Early viewership figures for the 1 p.m. ET Bears‑Packers broadcast and the rescheduled Seahawks‑49ers contest will indicate how the flex strategy affects audience levels and advertising revenue.