Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams suffered a minor left ankle injury in the team’s 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The injury occurred late in the game when Williams completed a short pass and was brought down awkwardly, causing him to limp off the field.
After the game, Williams downplayed the severity of the injury, explaining that he felt discomfort after landing awkwardly and trying to avoid further twisting as an Arizona defender grabbed his ankle. Both Williams and Bears head coach Matt Eberflus confirmed that he seemed fine, although the team planned to reassess his condition the next day.
The Bears’ final drive continued with Williams playing, even though they were trailing by 20 points with little time left. Eberflus explained the decision to keep Williams on the field, stating that it was an opportunity to practice the offense’s two-minute drill, despite the game already being out of reach.
This strategy raised questions, as some might expect a player to be benched to avoid unnecessary injury in a lost game. Williams himself remarked that staying in the game wasn’t his decision, emphasizing that he would continue to play as directed by the coaches.
For Chicago, this game marked a particularly difficult offensive performance as they failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season. Williams completed 22 of 41 pass attempts, totaling 217 yards, with no interceptions, but his performance led to a subpar 68.9 passer rating. The team’s offensive struggles were evident, as they could not find the end zone against Arizona’s defense, which highlighted ongoing issues in their offensive execution and play-calling.
Coach Eberflus accepted responsibility for the Bears’ offensive problems, acknowledging that their ineffective run game and lack of protection for Williams were critical issues. He expressed his commitment to improving these areas, planning to work closely with the offensive staff to address both the rushing attack and pass protection. Eberflus stressed the importance of a balanced offensive strategy, starting with establishing the run and then developing passing options, which he hopes will allow Williams to execute plays downfield more effectively.
The loss to Arizona underscored Chicago’s struggles in the past few games, especially offensively, with the team now enduring back-to-back defeats. The Bears are now focused on analyzing game footage to make necessary adjustments in both their ground and aerial attacks. Eberflus’s emphasis on improving protection for Williams reflects the team’s need to support their rookie quarterback and maximize his potential, especially given his apparent durability and resilience shown even in this challenging loss.
