What NFL experts are saying about Bears QB Caleb Williams' preseason debut

What NFL experts are saying about Bears QB Caleb Williams’ preseason debut

Posted by author August 12, 2024 NFL

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Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams made his anticipated preseason debut Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. And he didn’t disappoint.

In his two series of action, Williams looked calm, decisive and efficient operating Shane Waldron’s offense. He completed 4-of-7 passes for 95 yards and a 101.8 passer rating, while leading Chicago to six points. Two of his three incompletions were drops (by tight end Cole Kmet and receiver DJ Moore). The other, a throwaway out of the back of the end zone.

Moore called Williams’ performance “outstanding,” and his head coach Matt Eberflus was also impressed.

“There’s certainly positivity there,” Eberflus said of Williams’ debut. “We’re not going to squash that. I do feel like we have a lot of work to do and a lot of things to accomplish as a football team, not just Caleb. We all got to play good around him. It’s important that we keep improving before that first game.”

But don’t just take it from his teammates or coaches. Here’s what NFL analysts had to say about Williams’ impressive preseason debut.

USA Today Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz:

Impossibly lofty expectations are a fact of life at this point for Williams, who was compared to Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers before ever taking an NFL snap. Somehow, the No. 1 pick in this year’s still managed to deliver in his debut Saturday for the Chicago Bears, as he showed glimpses of his singular playmaking prowess against the Buffalo Bills. Williams’ most highlight-worthy play came on a 26-yard dart on the run to tight end Cole Kmet. There were several other notable moments from a day that ended after just two drives. Above all, however, Williams reinforced that the Bears finally have someone behind center who looks capable of elevating an attack rather than weighing it down.

NFL.com’s Kevin Paltra:

Williams displayed everything we’d come to expect entering the NFL. He showed the ability to escape pressure and wasn’t rattled. He displayed a cannon for an arm combined with excellent accuracy, especially on the move, while also sporting an ability to overcome bad situations through improvisation. Williams’ worst play was a flat-footed throw from his own end zone on the second drive that was nearly intercepted, but a Buffalo penalty negated the play.

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards:

The No. 1 overall selection did not make an appearance in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game but he did start this week against the Bills. Williams played 18 snaps on Saturday. Chicago did a good job of moving the pocket for him and allowing him to make throws in space. He showed good arm strength drilling a pass to D.J. Moore, who had sat down in tight coverage. In last week’s ‘Hard Knocks,’ Williams worked on sliding and put those drills to the test against the Bills. He completed 4 of 7 pass attempts for 95 yards, as well as 13 yards rushing.