The Chicago Bears plan to have Caleb Williams start in their season finale against Green Bay, rather than sitting him out.
Interim coach Thomas Brown rejected the idea of Williams not playing in Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field, saying it was never discussed by him or the team management. He also mentioned that other healthy starters will play as well.
“As far as Caleb goes, as far as dialog about him not playing, that’s never come up or been talked about at all,” Brown said Monday.
The Bears (4-12) have lost 10 straight games. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, has been sacked a franchise-record 67 times, which is the most in the NFL. However, the Bears believe the benefits of having him play against the Packers are greater than the risks of injury.
“Obviously, part of the evolution of him being his best is to try to continue to find ways to help him continue to grow and be at his best week in and week out, part of it is going to be able to protect himself and also be better,” Brown said.
“There’s an opportunity that’s not guaranteed. And I take it very seriously because opportunities aren’t guaranteed. And one thing I hate more than anything is wasted time. When time is going, you don’t get it back. So I’m gonna maximize every moment I have. And so it’ll be the same process as far as this team for this game on Sunday.”
The Bears have never lost more than 10 games in a row in one season. They lost their final 10 games in 2022, when they were tanking, as part of a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak that included the first four games of last season.
Chicago started the season with hopes of making the playoffs but things fell apart after a 4-2 start.
The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after a loss to New England in Week 10. They also fired head coach Matt Eberflus for the first time in franchise history the day after a tough loss to Detroit on Thanksgiving, following a series of poor late-game decisions. Under Brown, the team has gone 0-4.
This is far from what the Bears expected after adding several big-name players in the offseason, including Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California has impressed at times with his ability to avoid defenders and make strong throws.
Williams has started every game, throwing for 3,393 yards—fifth on Chicago’s single-season list—with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also set a rookie league record with 353 consecutive passes without an interception before being picked off by Seattle’s Riq Woolen late in a 6-3 loss on Thursday.
However, his habit of holding onto the ball too long has contributed to the hits he’s taken. The Bears’ previous record for sacks allowed was 66 in 2004, when they used four different quarterbacks.
Williams plays in a division where all the other teams have at least 11 wins and experienced quarterbacks.
“Caleb is super talented and he’s got all the tools that you need for a quarterback in this league,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “But that being said, you can’t replace experience, and all of those teams, they’ve got experienced guys and guys who have kind of been through it, so they definitely got a jump-start in that regard on him.
But I do think you see the biggest jumps in guys from Year 1 to Year 2, and I’m sure Caleb is gearing up for that as well.”
