The Bears decided that quarterback Caleb Williams won’t play in their exhibition opener Sunday against the Dolphins, preferring to treat their joint practice Friday against Miami like a game.
Williams’ game, then, didn’t get off to a good start.
His first pass in 11-on-11 drills was intercepted. Williams threw the ball beyond tight end Cole Kmet, who was running a crossing route, and right into the arms of Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
It got better quickly. Two passes later, Williams stepped up in the pocket and completed a deep over route to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who caught the ball about 35 yards deep and ran another 35 for a 70-yard touchdown. Williams stayed sharp, at least when he was able to throw. False starts and pass-protection issues plagued the Bears, something that has continued throughout two weeks of camp. The red zone remained a bugaboo — the Bears were unable to score against the Dolphins’ first team toward the end of practice.
The amount of work Williams got was more than he would’ve received at the start of a preseason game. An exhibition game does have its merits, however. The Bears have never gone through pregame warmups under new coach Ben Johnson, nor have they heard his voice in a headset with a full stadium roaring.
Williams won’t receive that treatment Sunday. The Bears plan to put him through a vigorous throwing program before the game, then use him in practice Monday.
“We have in place a plan, whether it’s pregame or after the game the next day, where the guys that aren’t playing, they’re going to be getting a substantial number of reps that’s actually higher than the guys that are playing,” Johnson said Friday. “We’ve talked about it as a staff, we feel very good about this plan going forward and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent will start and play the first half. Most of the team’s starters — nine on offense and nine on defense — will sit out. Left tackles Braxton Jones and Ozzy Trapilo will play as the battle for the starting job intensifies.
Johnson wouldn’t rule out playing his starting quarterback at some point this preseason — likely next week against the Bills at Soldier Field. Starters rarely play the third preseason game.
“I would suspect that we will have them play at some point, yep,” Johnson said. “But that’s to be determined.”
Williams, who threw 20 passes in preseason games last year, said Thursday that it’s “always good to be able to get a few reps in the preseason,” rather than taking his first snaps Sept. 8 against the Vikings. His bosses figure to oblige.
The Bears want Williams to orchestrate the offense before and after the snap. They caught a glimpse of that Thursday. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III went in motion from right to left but slowed down near the right tackle. Williams jumped up out of his crouch and pointed left, upon which Burden sprinted to the other side of the formation to block on a run play.
“It was good to see Caleb do that,” Johnson said. “That’s the expectation from the quarterbacks, and they’re getting a more familiar grasp of what we’re looking for and the intent of the play in the passing game but also in the running game.
“They need to be able to be the directors of every play, and they’re taking that ownership.”
Those plays, however, will remain on a back field at least for one more week.
