The Chicago Bears offense looked far more competent in the first half of their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings than at most points during Caleb Williams‘ 5-12 rookie campaign in 2024.
Chicago opened the first “Monday Night Football” game of the year on defense. The offense took the field on the second drive of the night and marched 61 yards in 10 plays over 5 minutes, 41 seconds to score a touchdown on a nine-yard run by Williams.
The Bears finished the opening half with 10 points after deciding to go for a first-down on a fourth-and-three play from the Vikings’ 24-yard line in the middle of the second quarter. Williams threw his first incomplete pass of the evening on that play.
ABC/ESPN broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman both noted that the wideout Williams targeted on the play was clearly open, but the pass was amiss.
Williams showed his mobility and escapability, rushing for 32 yards on four carries and evading what could have been sacks on multiple plays. But despite a solid opening half for the Bears second-year QB and his new head coach Ben Johnson, several fans took to social media with major complaints about one player on the offense — guard Jonah Jackson.
Jonah Jackson Caught Heat on Social Media After Rough Start to Bears Career
GettyChicago Bears offensive guard Jonah Jackson.
Jackson, 28 years old and playing in his sixth NFL season, was a new arrival in Chicago this offseason.
But less than one game into his first contest with the Bears, several fans were already calling for his benching — in large part due to mental mistakes that cost the offense yards via penalties.
“I think I’ve already seen enough of Jonah Jackson #dabears,” one X user wrote.
“I just believe at this point that Jonah Jackson doesn’t know what a snap count means,” another person posted.
“Jonah Jackson bout to get chewed out bro,” a third fan wrote.
Minnesota also got relatively consistent pressure on Williams up the middle, which was a problem area Johnson and his staff prioritized in the offseason by adding Jackson, fellow offensive guard Joe Thuney and center Drew Dalman.
Bears Extended Jonah Jackson Shortly After Trading 6th-Round Pick to Rams to Acquire Him During Offseason
GettyOffensive guard Jonah Jackson, formerly of the Detroit Lions.
Chicago traded a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jackson in March before extending him on a three-year, $52.5 million contract just days later.
Jackson played only four games last season after suffering a shoulder injury during the preseason and hurting the joint again early in the year. He eventually returned, though as a bench player from whom the Rams’ offense eventually moved on.
Jackson began his career as a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions out of Ohio State back in 2020. He earned Pro-Bowl honors during his second professional season but missed four and five games, respectively, in 2022 and 2023 before joining the Rams in March 2024.
Chicago lists Kiran Amegadjie, a third-round tackle out of Yale in 2024, as the backup right guard, per the team’s official depth chart.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bears Fans Turn on New Addition in 1st Half of Opener Against Vikings appeared first on Heavy Sports.