The game between the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders will feature a quarterback picked first in the draft against one chosen second.
However, it’s uncertain if this will be the exciting matchup the NFL anticipated when the game was moved to national television.
A rib injury to Jayden Daniels has created doubts about what was expected to be a meeting of rookie quarterbacks from the top of the draft, leading teams that have done better than expected.
Caleb Williams, the first pick, leads the Bears into Washington for his homecoming with three straight wins, while the Commanders are not sure if Daniels or veteran Marcus Mariota will start on Sunday.
If Williams faces Daniels, it would mark only the sixth time since the common draft era began in 1967 that quarterbacks chosen first and second have played against each other in the season after being drafted.
“It really means nothing,” Mariota said with a laugh, recalling that he was the No. 2 pick and faced Jameis Winston in one of those past games nine years ago. “Jayden does a great job of kind of always being present.
That’s very unique for somebody his age. I think he’s very much about the process and finding ways to get better, regardless of what the circumstance or situation is throughout the week.”
Williams is playing his first professional game in the area where he grew up, having lived in Washington, D.C., and nearby Maryland. He mentioned he needed all the tickets he was allowed.
“Since I left high school, I haven’t been back other than, I think, one or two times,” Williams said. “Being able to go back and share that experience, it’s going to be great. It’s going to be fun. To come out with the win is going to be most important.”
The Bears (4-2) are coming off their bye week and haven’t lost since September 22. Williams has thrown for seven touchdowns and just one interception in the last three games, a development that doesn’t surprise Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Williams last season at Southern California.
“Just a tremendous competitor, wants to be great, works at it and just insane talent — some of the freaky (Patrick) Mahomes-type throws he can make and vision, extending plays, the things he can do,” Kingsbury said. “Freaky talent.
Watching the stuff he’d do in practice and in the games, his ability, his feel — really, really special. He’s going to be one of the top guys in the league for a lot of years, so that was cool to get to spend time with him last year.”
Daniels has thrown for 1,410 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for four more, helping lead the Commanders (5-2) to the top of the NFC East. Williams has 1,317 yards passing and is not far behind in the race for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Even with that competition, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said the chance to face Williams was not what motivated Daniels to play.
“They’re not playing against one another,” Quinn said. “‘Anybody, anywhere, anytime’ is really the mindset for him. I think at his core, that’s one of the things I really admire about him is just his readiness, his wanting to go prove it.”
Bears receiver DJ Moore had an incredible game in Week 5 against Washington last year. He caught eight passes and set career highs with 230 yards and three touchdowns, helping Chicago end a 14-game losing streak with a 40-20 win.
It’s fair to say Moore was prepared for the questions this week.
“Uh, I knew somebody was going to ask me that last night,” he said. “I was like, ’Eh, do I say the real answer or do I just come up with something politically correct?’” How about both?
“All right. So, yeah, I think about it. Two hundred thirty don’t go out your mind when you’re playing a team from last year. But it’s a new year, and they’ve got new people, some new people, so we’ll see what happens.”
Moore had almost all of former Chicago quarterback Justin Fields’ 282 yards passing in last year’s game. He was the only Bears receiver with a touchdown.
Moore has 314 yards this season after setting a career high with 1,364 in 2023. However, the Bears have a deeper wide receiver group now, having traded for six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and drafting Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick.
