Caleb

Williams

The preseason struggles of the offensive line continued forward into Week 2 as Williams took seven sacks and threw two interceptions against a stingy, zone-heavy Texans defense. Even so, the Bears were within striking distance throughout on the backs of their defense, getting the ball back with under two minutes remaining with a chance to drive the field and sneak out with another late victory. Penalties also plagued the Bears under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football as the team committed nine infractions for 60 yards on the evening. Either way, that now marks two consecutive shaky outings for the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, with the Bears stealing a win away from the Titans on the backs of two second half defensive scores in Week 1. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has to take some of the brunt here as his offense has looked flat and uninspiring through two games, something he and Williams need to correct if this team is to turn the corner this season. Up next for the 1-1 Bears is a road date with the Colts in Week 3.

The numbers are actually even worse than that, as Williams took two terrible sacks for a combined 29 yards, giving him 64 yards net passing. Williams looked more than ready for prime time physically, but it was a classic “the game is moving too fast” performance otherwise. Williams seemed almost frantic through his progressions, and just was not timing things up right. He had several batted passes. The good news is, he avoided the truly big mistake, and did improve as the second half wore on. There he just needed to hit a few layups as the Bears’ defense took over, and he executed the mission. Williams is going to get better, and likely in a hurry, but fantasy managers should clearly not be counting on him as a QB1 for Week 2 against the Texans.

The Bears have seen enough out of their No. 1 overall pick through two preseason games. Williams has completed 10-of-20 passes for 170 yards, but his impact beyond the numbers has shown through his play. He made on-the-run throws that highlighted his pocket presence and mobility, highlighted by last week’s 45-yard pass to rookie wideout Rome Odunze. The Bears are ready to start the rookie Week 1 and will rest him, along with most of the other starters, in preparation for Williams’ debut against the Titans.

Williams and the starters were locked down until the final possession of the first half, which is troublesome considering the Bengals rested most key starters. He completed just 4-of-8 passes for 19 yards during the first three possessions. That said, Williams also led a nice possession to end the half, highlighted by a 45-yard dime to rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze. The drive ended in a seven-yard touchdown scramble from Williams after he escaped two would-be sacks, displaying elite poise under pressure before escaping out the left side with his eyes downfield. The No. 1 overall selection in this year’s draft continues to display immense upside despite the clear shortcomings of the offensive line, something we could be forced to get used to in the 2024 season for the Bears.

Williams was composed in the pocket and showcased his ability to extend plays, leading two drives with the starters, each of which ended in field goals. The highlight of his day came when he escaped the pocket to the right and threw a dart on the run to tight end Cole Kmet, reminiscent of something we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from Patrick Mahomes. The escapability was a definite positive considering the Bears’ offensive line is expected to be a bottom-tier unit this season. Williams targeted DJ Moore three times, Cole Kmet twice, D’Andre Swift once, and Rome Odunze once, notably failing to target veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen on any of his seven pass attempts. It’s too early to raise any alarm bells considering we’ve seen all of two offensive drives from the Bears’ starters.

Eberflus told reporters, Bears starters will have a designated “range” of plays designed for them but declined to give a specific, expected snap count. Rookie QB Caleb Williams gets his first test against a Bills team that will reportedly play its starters for nearly a full quarter.

This isn’t too much of a surprise as the HOF game will serve as an extra preseason for both the Bears and Texans. Williams, who was announced as the starter soon after being drafted, will sit with the rest of the starters. Fans will likely get their first glimpse of Williams against the Bills in Week 1 of the preseason.

After reports of Williams struggling early in OTAs, Waldron praised the No. 1 overall pick for his preparation since then. The Bears OC said Williams’ next level of play “shows that he did a great job during his time away from the building” and praised him for “owning the offense.” We’re still over a month away from Week 1, but Waldron noted that Williams has made “smarter plays” and “quicker plays” through the first two days of training camp, which is an encouraging sign for both Bears fans and fantasy managers. The Bears surrounded Williams with ample talent to kick off his rookie campaign. If he lives up to his billing early in the season, it should make for a profitable season for those who invested in the Bears’ offense in their fantasy drafts.

According to Cronin, Williams will get “ample run” in the preseason — a plan the Bears have reportedly been discussing all spring. Head coach Matt Eberflus said the team hasn’t made any concrete decisions for the No. 1 overall pick but said, “We certainly want to get him some reps [in the preseason].” Williams enters a rookie year with lofty expectations and a roster built for immediate success. In addition to having DJ Moore, the Bears also went out and added veteran receiver Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze to give him three legitimate weapons in the passing game. Williams has been drafted as a high-end QB2 for much of the fantasy offseason but could return far more value if things click early. A substantial number of preseason reps could help him progress at a faster rate.

The number one overall pick can now report to camp with the rest of his rookie teammates. Williams’ deal includes a $25.5 million signing bonus along with the team’s fifth-year option. Rome Odunze signed just hours before and now both of the Bears’ top rookies are on the books. Williams was named the starter soon after he was drafted by the Bears in late April.