Caleb Williams’ NFL debut teeters on the edge of disaster at halftime, with the Bears trailing the Titans 17-3 on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Williams went 8-for-14 for 53 yards and a 65.5 passer rating in the first half. One of his completions was wild — late in the first half, Williams threw a slant pass that hit a Titans player in the helmet, bounced in the air and was caught by rookie Rome Odunze as though he was boxing out for a rebound. Odunze fumbled when he landed and the ball was recovered by Teven Jenkins for a nine-yard gain.
The Titans, projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter when running back Tony Pollard ran for a 26-yard touchdown. Velus Jones fumbled the ensuing kick return, muffing the ball at his own 3 and kicking in forward on the ground, where it recovered by the Titans 20 yards later. Titans kicker Nick Folk booted a 40-yard field goal four plays later to go up 10.
A five-play drive led to another Bears punt, upon which the Titans embarked on a methodical 8-minute, 23-second touchdown drive that ended with Chig Okonkwo caught a 17-yard touchdown on first-and-goal.
With Jones benched from his kick returner job, DeAndre Carter returned the next kickoff 67 yards. The Bears converted fourth-and-one at the 25 with two minutes left in the half but eventually settled for a 24-yard Cairo Santos field goal.
Earlier, new Bears defensive end Darrell Taylor, who didn’t practice Friday and was considered questionable for the team’s opener, was ruled active. He recorded his first sack.
Taylor’s foot was stepped on during practice Thursday. The Bears traded for him last month with hopes he’d provide a pass-rush boost opposite Montez Sweat.
As expected, receiver Keenan Allen (heel) and Sweat (toe) will play. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker (groin) will, too.
The Bears made wide receiver Tyler Scott, linebacker Noah Sewell, tackle Kiran Amegadjie, center/guard Bill Murray and defensive end Dominique Robinson healthy scratches. Running back Roschon Johnson, who has been battling a toe injury but was a full participant Friday, is inactive.