The Chicago Bears’ offense is shaping up to be the franchise’s strongest in decades, so expectations for next season are sky high. However, Caleb Williams’ performance is crucial to those hopes. However, the early returns from Chicago’s first full-team OTAs of the summer were not promising. Caleb Williams and the offense were allegedly struggling.
I wouldn’t worry too much, Bears supporters. Yes, Caleb Williams experienced some of the same challenges at USC last year. But it’s early, crucial players are missing, and he has more than four months to catch up. That’s how Chicago Bears veterans feel, too. They’re attempting to keep Caleb Williams positive. NBC Sports Chicago has more. As the defense dominated Williams and the offense Thursday, veteran safety Kevin Byard assured the rookie quarterback that it will pay off in the long term.
“I said something to him at the end of practice: Keep going, we’re gonna keep making you better,” Byard stated on Thursday. “I’m not saying he had a terrible day, but days like this will make you better. So that’s our job, and as I mentioned, he’s done a lot of good work in just three days of practice. He’s made some excellent throws. Just coming in with that swag as a rookie quarterback, he doesn’t appear flustered by anything, which is amazing to see.”
Byard stated that Williams and the offense shredded them early in the week, and that his message to the rookie quarterback will remain unchanged regardless of who wins the day in practice. “Sometimes it’s going to be back and forth, and that’s how the season will be, week to week,” Byard said of his message to Williams regarding his practice difficulties. “Every week is not going to be perfect. Some weeks, we’ll have to execute a two-minute exercise, and he’ll have to go win a game. Some weeks, we’ll blow people away. Sometimes it won’t be like that.
“So I’d just tell him, look, on days like this, just keep fighting, keep going, watch the movie, and get better. And that applies to everyone on the squad. Not everything will be perfect. Do you understand what I am saying? But I appreciate his confidence, and he just looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘of course I will,’ which was nice to see.”
Byard makes valid points here. I don’t think anyone can refute Caleb Williams’ enormous potential. As long as he keeps the course and works hard, the Bears should have a franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
