The Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall and are building their roster around him. But he hasn’t gotten off to the best start, as he reportedly struggled during their first full-team OTAs.
There’s a lot of enthusiasm in Chicago right now as fans reckon the Bears are finally poised to make a run at a noteworthy season, but the recent reports could have them worried.
Williams is reported to have thrown multiple incompletions and near interceptions in practice, completing just three passes in seven-on-sevens, with Jaylon Johnson nearly picking him.
Most of his issues stemmed from holding onto the ball for a long time.
“It’s worth noting that Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen did not participate in 7-on-7s and team. Also, Nate Davis and Darnell Wright were not practicing today,” Bears beat reporter Nicholas Moreano wrote.
There’s no reason to hit the panic button just yet, though. Williams will have four months to get himself in shape, plus there were key players who were not around for him to throw to.
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It’s something the team’s veterans have tried to get him to understand.
Kevin Byard Reveals His Conversations With Caleb Williams
Safety Kevin Byard has explained how he encouraged the rookie quarterback following his poor spell.
“I said something to him at the end of practice: Keep going, we’re gonna keep making you better,” Byard said, per NBC Sports Chicago. “Not necessarily saying that he had a terrible day, but like days like this are gonna make you better. So that’s our job, and like I said, obviously, just the first three days of practice, he’s done a lot of positive things. He’s made some really great throws. Just coming in with that swag as a rookie quarterback, he doesn’t seem flustered by anything, so that’s exciting to see.”
Byard added that Williams and the offense had beaten the defense earlier in the week and he wants his QB to remain consistent no matter who wins in practice.
“Sometimes it’s going to be back and forth, and that’s how the season is going to be, week to week,” he remarked. “Every week is not going to be great. Some weeks, we’re going to have to do a two-minute drill; he’s going to have to go win us a game. Some weeks, we’re going to blow people out. Sometimes it’s not going to be like that.
“So I would just kind of tell him, like, hey, days like this, just keep fighting, keep going, watch the film, get better. And that’s for everyone on the team. Everything is not going to be peaches and cream. You know what I’m saying? But like I like his confidence and he kind of just looked me straight in the eye and said ‘of course I will,’ and that was good to see.”
Caleb Williams would do well not to get his head down. He’s clearly one of the most talented quarterbacks to come out of college in recent years and will get better.
He just has to keep working.
