Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will make his Soldier Field debut Saturday in the preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Coach Matt Eberflus said Thursday that Bears starters will play a range of snaps based on “the ebb and flow of the game.” However, they may play against the Bengals second-teamers.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said earlier in the week he didn’t expect to play many starters, and he didn’t indicate a change to that after a rainy joint practice Thursday at Halas Hall.
Here are four things to watch as the Bears get ready for their third preseason game.
1. Another snippet of Caleb Williams
When Bears safety Kevin Byard was asked for an assessment of Williams’ preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills last week, he called it “pretty good.” Then he quickly corrected himself.
“Honestly, I would say it was incredible,” Byard said. “Obviously it was only a couple plays, a couple throws here and there. But for a rookie he looked really comfortable. A couple of his scramble throws were really good. That little screen throw he threw to (D’Andre) Swift was really good.
“You don’t really see that type of moxie and that type of poise from a rookie quarterback. I know it was just one game, but it was really good to see and I’m looking forward to watching him again on Saturday.”
Williams completed 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards and also had a 13-yard scramble while directing two field-goal drives in the Bears’ 33-6 victory. The quality of some throws, including the flick to Swift, a third-down pass to DJ Moore and a 26-yarder to Cole Kmet, made Bears fans — and teammates — perk up.
Eberflus said he wants to see “much of the same” from Williams against a Bengals defense that presents different challenges than the Bills, who run a similar defense to the Bears.
“He’s going against a different structure here, so I think much of the same and improving and doing the basics of quarterbacking,” Eberflus said. “I think he did that last week at a solid rate.
“There were a couple things with the footwork under center and those types of things where he’s got to improve. He’s worked on those this week. But really much of the same and leveling up as we go through these weeks.”
2. Protecting Williams
A major storyline throughout training camp has been whether the Bears have the right pieces in place on the offensive line to protect Williams in his rookie season. Early camp injuries have messed with continuity.
Center/guard Ryan Bates is “week to week” with an injury, according to Eberflus, and Coleman Shelton is starting at center. Right guard Nate Davis has missed significant time with a groin injury, but he returned to practice this week and worked with the first team Thursday.
It will be worth watching to see if Davis takes his first game reps of the preseason after Eberflus said Thursday that the center and right guard positions are a competition and “not solidified yet.”
When asked about Eberflus’ statement, Davis said his mentality is to “take the reps as they come.” But Davis, who missed six games last year because of a death in his family and an injury, said he has bigger goals as he enters the second year of a three-year, $30 million contract.
“Just to show the world the type of player I really am, especially when I’m healthy,” Davis said. “When the mind is right, the body is good, I know I am a special player. I’m just excited to showcase that.”
3. Getting after the QB
Former NFL executive and current NFL Network analyst Scott Pioli revealed Thursday that the Bears were in on trade talks for New England Patriots pass rusher Matthew Judon.
Pioli, a mentor of Bears general manager Ryan Poles, was at Bears camp this week and said he was with Poles as he discussed the possibility of acquiring Judon, who went to the Atlanta Falcons instead for a third-round pick.
It’s a sign the Bears still are exploring an upgrade at defensive end opposite Montez Sweat. For now, they continue to evaluate their depth at the position.
Sweat, who missed the second preseason game with an injury, was back at practice this week, though it remains to be seen if he’ll play Saturday. The Bears have DeMarcus Walker opposite Sweat but have been getting a deeper look at players such as Dominique Robinson, Daniel Hardy and rookie Austin Booker.
Hardy and Booker each had 2½ sacks against the Bills backups on an eight-sack day for the Bears. The Bears have spoken highly of what they have seen from Booker, a fifth-round pick out of Kansas, while also noting he has development ahead.
“He’s a natural rusher, real instinctual, doesn’t predetermine prior to (the play), and you saw that today again,” Eberflus said Thursday. “Some guys just have natural slip and are able to turn the corner, and he’s got that. He’s improving, and the most important thing he has is motor. He throws his fastball every play, and that’s what a good D-lineman does.”
4. Opportunities seized?
Much has been made the last two weeks of Velus Jones Jr.’s experimentation at running back in a bid to make the roster. He had six carries for 34 yards and a touchdown against the Bills and was a storyline in this week’s “Hard Knocks” episode.
Eberflus said Thursday that Jones has displayed “toughness” in making the move from wide receiver and is slowly learning the reads and protections he needs to play running back.
Jones should get more opportunities Saturday with the backups behind starters D’Andre Swift and Khalil Herbert. And with all of the starters limited, plenty of other backups will be looking to showcase what they can do.
On the defensive side, that could be the aforementioned pass rushers or some of the reserves in the secondary who have received opportunities with camp injuries to nickel Kyler Gordon, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jaquan Brisker.
Gordon and Stevenson were back at practice this week and potentially could play. But Brisker remains out, and Byard spoke highly of what he has seen from 2022 seventh-round pick Elijah Hicks in Brisker’s absence.
“Elijah Hicks has been playing his behind off,” Byard said. “I really like him. I know he’s a (seventh-round pick) and he has that chip on his shoulder, and you can just see it out there, whether it’s special teams or defense.
“And that’s what I keep telling him. Jaquan, obviously he’s going to come back, but (seize) every opportunity you get to come out here and show your brand of football, show your physicality.”
Defensive coordinator Eric Washington also singled out Josh Blackwell for his work at nickel while Gordon was sidelined.
“Really like how he’s been working,” Washington said. “He has really stepped up.”
