Bears News: Caleb Williams: “It’s preseason” after sluggish first-half vs. Chiefs

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 6 hours ago

CHICAGO - The numbers for quarterback Caleb Williams were not bad in Chicago’s final preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished the game 11 of 15 for 113 yards and a touchdown.

However, watching the game was a different story as the offense was stagnant for most of the first half and was shut out until almost halfway through the second quarter.

“You start slow how we did, especially with a (simple), easy play and missed timing, a snap with a fast receiver flying across fast motion and you have something like that that happens early in the game, it’s not what we want especially in our openers,” Williams said. “Those are typically plays that we’ve gone over multiple times and having those issues is frustrating and definitely need to fix that. But, that’s a big point of why we practice, why we have preseason and things like that, to be able to get more reps and moments, be able to have a moment like that and be able to learn from it and correct it.”

Chicago’s two-minute drill at the end of the first half was the best drive for the starting offense. The offense was in rhythm and able to complete two big plays - a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheus and a 37-yard pass to receiver Rome Odunze to put the Bears in the redzone. Odunze ended up catching the three-yard touchdown pass as well to get Chicago within two scores.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent was probably the star of the game. He played the entire second half, completing 20 of 28 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game. Although Bagent and the rest of the offense played better in the second half and led Chicago to the win, there are some concerns about the starting offense after their sloppy performance against Kansas City.

However, Williams does not seem too concerned.

“It’s preseason. We’re not game planning. We’re not doing as much as you would in a game week. We’re still practicing. We’re still making sure all of our stuff, our base stuff is down and we’re working on all of that. So, the looks, a part of that is not seeing the looks all week as much as you would in a game week and you spend all week, very week planning for this team and we’re at that point now where we’re transitioning to that soon and so, it’s frustrating,” Williams said. “Obviously, you want to go out there and every single chance that you go out there, you want to be able to perform and go out there and not have the slow starts or whatever the case may be. So, like I said, it’s frustrating. But, you also understand that it is preseason and the situation and things like that is different than it is in season.”

Despite how Williams and the rest of the starting offense played in the first half, it is not all doom and gloom.

There is time before Chicago’s regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Mon. Sept. 8 (7:15 p.m. / ABC), and Williams does feel that the mistakes fans saw against Kansas City can be fixed.

“It comes to just seeing things when I’m out there on the field, whether it’s defense or recognizing things a little bit faster or more often when it’s a blitz and being able (to) make checks and see it and be able to feel comfortable and trust the guys in front of me and whether it’s a back. Obviously, the five guys up front,” Williams said. “But, being able to trust the back when I make that check and he goes up and fills the gap and (I am) able to deliver a good ball.”