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Chris Williams was inactive because Bears wanted to see Jonathan Scott

Chris Wiliams was inactive against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, and it was at his expense that Jonathan Scott had a chance to show what he could do as the backup left tackle.

Jonathan Daniel - Getty Images

The Chicago Bears decided to leave backup left tackle Chris Williams inactive against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, and according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson, it was because they wanted to see what Jonathan Scott had to offer. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice had some quotes to explain the decision to make Williams, a first-round pick (No. 14 overall) in 2008, inactive:

"Well we wanted to give Jon a chance. Jon had not suited up. In the minimal role our backup tackle has in the game, we were going to utilize him a little bit in goal line. And also not the only reason, but he's our backup deep-snapper, too. And a legitimate one. But we wanted to give Jon a chance to suit up. We brought him in. He's been a good player in this league. And it was his turn up."

Williams has been the starter for the Bears since being drafted in 2008, for the most part. He's started 38 games over the past four years, but lost the starting job to J'Marcus Webb, who has been heavily criticized by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler this season. Webb bested Williams in training camp even though many thought Williams wasn't truly being contested for the position.

Chicago's offensive line has a lot of problems all over, and Williams had a chance to re-gain a starting position at left guard, or at least it seemed he did. Instead, the job was given to free agent signee Chilo Rachal, who had been benched and passed over by multiple players at the right guard spot with the San Francisco 49ers last season. Williams is entering the final year of his contract, so it will be interesting to see if he has a future with the Bears given the fact that he was inactive on Monday.