Bears will sit QB Caleb Williams vs. Browns in preseason opener, backup Tyson Bagent to start

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will watch the preseason opener against the Browns on Saturday from the sideline. Backup Tyson Bagent will start and likely play the first half.

“I don’t know that I need to see game snaps,” coach Ben Johnson said of Williams. “What were trying to assess is the volume throughout the week and … making sure our team is ready for a 17-game season. Do I need to see Caleb Williams in the preseason? No I see him every day in practice.”

Johnson added that he wants to see Williams and the offense hit certain “benchmarks” of progress, but he also is taking significant input from the training staff with a goal of keeping players’ total snaps between practices and games to a reasonable level in order to be fresh for the start of the season Sept. 13 at the Panthers.

In Williams’ case, he said he hasn’t decided whether preseason game snaps will be part of the equation. The Bears have preseason games the next two weeks at the Bengals and Titans, plus joint practices against each of those teams ahead of those matchups. Johnson could opt to have Williams get his game-like snaps in those practices.

Johnson said he also will sit several starters on both sides of the ball, but didn’t want to list them all. Behind Bagent, the Bears have third-stringer Case Keenum and undrafted rookie Miller Moss.

Last season, Johnson held Williams out of the preseason opener against the Dolphins, then played him against the Bills and Chiefs.

Browns coach Todd Monken, meanwhile, indicated Wednesday he will start veteran Deshaun Watson, then turn to Shedeur Sanders in the second half. Watson and Sanders both are competing for the starting job.