In a mild surprise, the Bears plan to play their starters in the preseason game Saturday against the Bengals. That would give Chicago its first up-close look at rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Fans should expect something they haven’t seen at Soldier Field in recent memory: an intrepid, instinctive passer capable of putting on a show. It might be merely a sample because the starters won’t play long, but it’ll be a glimpse into what teammates have seen since he arrived.
“Yeah, he’s different,” tight end Cole Kmet said flatly Thursday when asked about Williams’ passing ability compared to other quarterbacks the Bears have had the last few seasons, predominantly Justin Fields. “For sure.”
Coach Matt Eberflus didn’t specify playing time, saying only that “it depends on the ebb and flow of the game.” Kmet thinks it’ll be about one quarter. He added, “Don’t quote me on that.”
Too late.
The Bears held two joint practices with the Colts last year, then both teams sat their starters in the ensuing preseason game. But after practicing with the Bengals for two hours in the rain Thursday, Eberflus wanted to see Williams keep it going.
The Bengals, by the way, will not play their starters, coach Zac Taylor said Monday.
Williams played two possessions last week against the Bills and went 4-for-7 for 95 yards in leading the Bears to two field goals. Kmet saw Williams kick it up a notch on game day compared to how he’d been in training camp.
“You could feel his confidence in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage; his cadence was great,” Kmet said. “All those things seemed to click, and you could see him figuring out things from play to play.”
He also noticed Williams was undeterred by a dicey throw to Rome Odunze early in the game, saying, “A lot of guys would be a little hesitant going forward, but he kept ripping it.”
When asked what he wanted to see from Williams against the Bengals, Eberflus said, “much of the same,” plus some better footwork under center. It’s also a good challenge because the Bengals use a 3-4 base defense as opposed to the Bears’ 4-3 that Williams faces every day and what he saw from the Bills.
He held his own against the Bengals on Thursday after linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted his first pass in seven-on-seven work.
“He throws an interception, then he comes back,” Eberflus said.
Williams made many of the crafty throws that vaulted him to stardom at USC and wowed his teammates in training camp. He was especially sharp in a red-zone drill near the end of practice, hitting wide receiver DJ Moore in the center of the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
He later threw a brilliant pass downfield to Odunze cutting across to the right sideline. It wasn’t totally clear whom Williams was targeting as he released the ball, but Odunze raced under it at exactly the right moment for a big gain. Two plays later, Williams weaved a fastball through defenders over the middle to tight end Gerald Everett.
That’s encouraging for the Bears, too. Williams is spreading it among a strong cast of skill players — don’t forget potential Hall of Fame wide receiver Keenan Allen and Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift — rather than locking in on one favorite.
For the first time in years, the progress at quarterback is evident. The Bears aren’t having to spin shaky days at practice into positives like they did for Fields and Mitch Trubisky.
Williams has been choppy at times but within the expected range for a rookie. And throughout the ups and downs of camp, he has peppered in plenty of signs that show where he’s headed. Now, after months of waiting, that talent will be on display at Soldier Field.
”I think once you’ve been through the things that he’s been through, that I’ve been through, I think you understand it,’’ Burrow said.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow talks Caleb Williams.