LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- It's fair to wonder if Chris Williams is playing his last season in a Chicago Bears' uniform.

In the final year of the original rookie contract he signed in 2008, the former first-round pick (No. 14 overall) was a healthy scratch in Week 4 as the Bears opted to activate veteran tackle Jonathan Scott to serve as the backup to left tackle J'Marcus Webb.

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice explained the decision behind Williams being inactive for the first time this season.

"Well we wanted to give Jon a chance," Tice said on Wednesday. "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 started 38 games for the Bears over the past four years and entered the preseason in direct competition with Webb for the starting left tackle spot. Even though he eventually lost out to Webb, Williams did appear to do a decent job at left guard the last few years before he went on injured reserve midway through last season. But when it came time for Tice to bench starter Chris Spencer, the Bears passed over Williams in favor of Chilo Rachal.

Williams handled the demotion in a professional manner in the postgame locker room in Dallas, but his future with the Bears does not look promising given these recent events.