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Hopes are sky-high for the Chicago Bears next season, with an offense that is shaping up to be the franchise’s best in decades. But, a big part of those hopes relies on the play of Caleb Williams.
However, early, and I emphasize early, returns from Chicago’s first full-team OTA’s of the offseason were not good. Caleb Williams and the offense reportedly struggled.
Really rough day for Caleb Williams and the starting offense. A lot of incomplete passes and near interceptions.
In the 7-on-7 period, Williams completed just three passes. Jaylon Johnson nearly had an interception over the middle of the field.
In the team period, most of the…
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) May 23, 2024
I wouldn’t panic too much, Bears fans. Yes, these are some of the same issues that Caleb Williams had at USC at times last year. But, it’s very early, key players were missing, and he’s got over four months to get up to speed.
That’s how veterans of the Chicago Bears feel as well. They’re trying to keep Caleb Williams positive. Here’s NBC Sports Chicago with more.
As the defense dominated Williams and the offense Thursday, veteran safety Kevin Byard made sure to tell the rookie quarterback that this would pay off in the long run.
“I said something to him at the end of practice: Keep going, we’re gonna keep making you better,” Byard said Thursday. “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 said that Williams and the offense diced them up early in the week, and his message to the rookie quarterback will remain consistent no matter who wins the day in practice.
“Sometimes it’s going to be back and forth, and that’s how the season is going to be, week to week,” Byard said about his message to Williams about his practice struggles. “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.”
Byard raises good points here. I don’t think anyone can deny that Caleb Williams is immensely talented. As long as he stays the course and puts the work in, the Bears should have a longtime franchise quarterback.