Caleb Williams didn’t play much, but he’ll keep Chicago on its toes over the next week.
Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, had his first preseason game with the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon. The Bears didn’t play him much, but he made some plays that will be repeated over and over again in Chicago leading up to the Bears’ next preseason game. In just one quarter, all of his skills were on display.
On third-and-12 on Chicago’s first drive, Williams threw his first pass. He had plenty of time, stepped up to catch a pass, and in windy conditions, threw a laser to DJ Moore for a 12-yard gain for the first down. Moore was well covered, but Williams hit him anyway. That kept the drive alive.
Then came a bit of guile. Williams was under pressure, so he sent a no-look pass across his body, almost like a point guard in the zone, to D’Andre Swift. Swift ran it 42 yards. Williams is known for his ability to improvise and make creative plays when everything falls apart.
Then, on Chicago’s second drive, Williams unleashed a missile toward Cole Kmet. Williams shifted to the right, threw a slightly crossed pass, and fastballed it to the tight end for the first down. We don’t know what Williams will be as an NFL quarterback, but that pass alone proves that not many players have more arm strength.
Williams later ran and picked up a first down by running the ball in. He slid smartly before he was hit.
And that’s Williams’ package. He can use his arm strength and work from the pocket or on the move. He also has the innate ability to make plays virtually out of nothing. He has the athleticism to add value with his legs, too. It’s foolish to make too many proclamations in a preseason game quarter, but it was also exciting to see Williams showcase his talents on an NFL field for the first time.
Williams did not play in last week’s Hall of Fame game, which marked his NFL preseason debut on Saturday. NFL Network decided to air the first few snaps of the first-round pick. Everyone, not just Bears fans, wants to see the former Heisman Trophy winner in an NFL setting. And it provided some fun moments.
It wasn’t perfect. Williams nearly threw an interception on Chicago’s second drive, throwing the ball to a receiver who was completely covered. The pass was knocked down and incomplete, but an illegal contact penalty by the Bills negated that play and gave the Bears a first down. He also had a pair of catchable passes that were dropped by Kmet and Moore. Williams also threw too far to Rome Odunze in the end zone on a third down, which ended up being Williams’ final play on Saturday. The offense isn’t fully functional, nor does anyone expect that in the first preseason game.
The important thing was that Williams did more than enough to prove why he was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Bears fans will be eagerly counting down the days until the regular season, when Williams’ highlights will count.