After all the hype of being selected first in the 2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams must now prove his worth on the field. Fortunately, his first taste of the preseason didn’t disappoint.
The Bears routed the Buffalo Bills 33-6 in a preseason matchup a few days ago. Williams, the Bears’ first-round draft pick, had an impressive debut, going 4 of 7 for 95 yards and leading two field goal drives.
Despite the game being his first competitive action since November of the previous year, Williams displayed poise and awareness in the pocket. He also showcased his dual-threat abilities by scrambling for a 13-yard first down. Receiver DJ Moore praised the rookie, saying his performance gave the team hell of a confidence going into the season.
The game was decided in the fourth quarter when Bears linebacker Micah Baskerville intercepted a pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. The Bears’ offense gained 152 yards and seven first downs on 20 plays over two possessions led by Williams.
For the Bills, Josh Allen played the first quarter, going 2-for-3 for 22 yards and adding a 7-yard run. However, the Bills struggled overall, gaining just 200 yards and crossing midfield only twice on 11 possessions. Bills coach Sean McDermott was not pleased with his team’s performance and said their standard was not out there during the game.
Chicago Bears Rookie Quarterback Caleb Williams Receives Positive Reviews In First Week of Preseason
During the past few months, there were some doubts about how Williams will perform for the Bears. After their preseason match against the Bills, it’s safe to say the rookie lived up to expectations, as noted by Alex Kay’s article for Bleacher Report.
“The Chicago Bears may have found a gem in No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Although the 22-year-old didn’t suit up for Chicago’s Hall of Fame victory over the Houston Texans, he made an excellent debut on Saturday. He started under center and led the Bears on two strong drives to kick off what became a 33-6 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills.
Williams’ stat line of four completions on seven passing attempts for 95 yards may not jump off the page, but it’s worth noting that two of the incompletions he is credited with were a result of drops. He took his team into the red zone on both series, both of which resulted in points on the board.
More importantly, the USC product looked comfortable, calm and collected in a relatively big moment for a young player. He made strong reads, looked sharp rolling out on bootlegs and had coaches and teammates raving about his play.” Kay wrote.
Williams was selected first overall by Chicago in the 2024 NFL draft. He had a successful college career at Oklahoma and USC, winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy and setting several school records. The Bears named him their starting quarterback for the 2024 season, and he signed a four-year, $39.4 million rookie contract.
While the rookie’s performance drew rave reviews, the true test still lies ahead during the regular season. Hopefully, the Bears quarterback can surpass all of what NFL fans have expected from him.
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