After beating the Houston Texans in last week’s weather-shortened Hall of Fame game, the Chicago Bears will go back on the road to face the Buffalo Bills in a Saturday afternoon preseason game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Healthy starters are expected to play for at least the opening chunk of the game, adding appeal to the second of the Bears’ four August exhibitions. Here’s a rundown of four things to watch Saturday.
1. Caleb Williams. Caleb Williams. And more Caleb Williams.
This will be Williams’ first game action as an NFL quarterback. And preseason or not, the intrigue is rising. At this stage of Williams’ development, so much of the internal evaluation at Halas Hall remains focused on the rookie’s operational competence. That will be tested amid game dynamics Saturday with coaches looking to assess Williams’ command of the huddle and whether he’s able to call the plays with authority and in a timely manner.
They’ll also be looking to see if the offense can get lined up correctly, if Williams can make necessary adjustments before the snap and if he can use his cadence properly to get plays off without presnap sloppiness or penalties.
Still, what so much of the outside world wants to peek in on are the flashes of elite talent Williams is expected to show. What will be his “wow” moment against the Bills? Will he have a “whoa” moment as well? Those ups and downs put together will help illuminate why the Bears remain so optimistic about Williams’ long-term potential yet still so grounded in understanding that the development of any young quarterback is an arduous process.
Said quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph: “I tell him all the time, ‘You’re not going to be perfect.’ And the way you learn is by making mistakes. You come back, you learn from that mistake and you might make a new one. Now you learn from that one. For him it’s just taking those steps. You can’t skip a step in this process.”
2. The backfield
Newcomer D’Andre Swift might get a series or two and a handful of touches as both a ball carrier and a pass catcher. But then the spotlight will shift to Velus Jones Jr., who is spending this week auditioning as a tailback.
Coach Matt Eberflus has insinuated that Jones is on the fringe when it comes to fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. And while the Bears see upside in Jones’ abilities as a kickoff returner, they are also challenging him to contribute in more ways than just one.
Jones’ ticket to sticking around could hinge on whether he can show value as an offensive weapon. And Saturday afternoon should give him at least a small opportunity to do that.
“He certainly has speed. We know that,” Eberflus said. “He’s very durable. He has some good lean mass to him, so he can knock it forward pretty good. He has some good acceleration.”
Also keep an eye on Ian Wheeler, an undrafted rookie out of Howard who has big-play explosion that might flash in the preseason.
3. Gervon Dexter
Perhaps no position group has been under more scrutiny this offseason than the defensive line. And it’s possible no player on the roster has received more offseason praise at Halas Hall than Dexter, who is expected to emerge as a difference-making starter in the interior of the defensive line.
Through the early parts of training camp, Dexter has been a major disrupter, consistently helping to dent the pocket and frequently batting passes down or into the air. On Saturday, he’ll have the chance to get after Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Ask anyone at Halas Hall and they’ll quickly point to the heightened confidence Dexter is playing with. Now it’s time to turn that into game-day production.
4. The new kickoff … again
The NFL’s new dynamic kickoff got its first test run in the Hall of Fame game with only one touchback and seven total returns. (None, though, went past the 32-yard line.) August remains an experimental period for teams around the league that continue to feel out the speed and flow of the new play.
With coverage teams now starting at the opposition’s 40-yard line but unable to move until the kickoff is caught or hits the ground, there is no longer a premium on kickoff hang time, which opens the door for creativity. From a return perspective, the play has a different feel as well, with different lanes and fewer levels to read.
All in all, the aim is to bring the kickoff back into the game, and you can count Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower among those who can feel the excitement building.
“Kickers are excited because they get a chance to showcase their ability,” Hightower said. “Returners are excited because they’re going to be able to touch the ball a lot more. I think it’s great for the game right now.”
