Caleb Williams made it clear that he’s not focused on being compared to C.J. Stroud when the Chicago Bears play the Houston Texans on Sunday night.
The quarterback, who was picked first overall by the Bears, just wants to improve after a less impressive debut and help his team win again.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California, was supported by the defense and special teams in the Bears’ 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in their season opener. He might be missing two of his top wide receivers this week, as Rome Odunze (with a sprained knee) and Keenan Allen (with a heel issue) did not practice on Wednesday.
“I didn’t have the performance I wanted to, so I’m trying to figure it out as quickly as possible, making sure we are on the same page and handling what needs to be handled,” Williams said on Wednesday.
“All the small things become much bigger on game day. We need to manage those, including myself. Moving forward from there.”
Williams isn’t very interested in comparisons to Stroud and his impressive rookie season last year.
The Texans’ quarterback passed for over 4,100 yards and was named AP Offensive Player of the Year after being drafted second overall from Ohio State. He helped the Texans improve significantly in the AFC South.
“My motivation is to be the best for the Chicago Bears, win games, make the playoffs, and win there as well. I’m doing my best every day, both mentally and physically, ensuring I rest and eat well, and making sure I’m prepared in the week leading up to the game to be at my best for my team.”
