Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams wants the Chicago Bears to play with more aggression.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Williams and tight ends Marcedes Lewis and Cole Kmet met with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and said they want the offense to be "more aggressive" moving forward following a 1-2 start.

.@JayGlazer breaks down how members of the Bears offense met with OC Shane Waldron to express their frustration 😳 pic.twitter.com/jW3xoqIRtf

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 29, 2024

Chicago is 30th in the league in yards per game (249.3) and 22nd in points per game (17.7) in the early going this season and has looked lost on offense at times.

One stretch in particular during the Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts stood out, as the Bears ran four straight times with goal-to-go inside the 5-yard line and did not score a point. The 4th-and-goal play from the 1-yard line was particularly egregious, as Waldron called a speed option play to the short side of the field that lost 12 yards.

Indianapolis ended up winning the game by five, so a touchdown in that scenario shortly before halftime could have changed the outcome of the game.

There is certainly an adjustment period underway for the Bears, as Williams is in his first season as a rookie quarterback while Waldron is in his first season as the team's offensive coordinator after previous stops with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

Throw in new additions in D'Andre Swift, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett, among others, and the offensive group is still growing accustomed to each other.

Chicago's offensive line has also struggled through the first three games, which has left Williams scrambling for time and taking a number of hits in the pocket. That is one reason he has two touchdowns to four interceptions and could be looking for some offensive changes.

Offensive changes could lead to a quick turnaround.

The talent is there with DJ Moore, Odunze, Allen and Williams, and the next six games against the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots is not exactly daunting.

Making the playoffs in Williams' rookie season may be too much to ask, but the team could be a contender late into the year if it takes advantage of that softer stretch. And it starts with taking strides on the offensive side of the ball.

Five months after being drafted by the Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams is in the early stages of building his real estate portfolio in the city.

Per Glancer Magazine, Williams recently purchased a $12.9 million mansion in Lake Forest, Illinois. Lake Forest is approximately 33 miles from Chicago.

The property includes landscaped gardens, a private pool and direct access to Lake Michigan.

pic.twitter.com/QqDarEX8j5

— Chicago Jay (@Chicago_Jay1) September 26, 2024

pic.twitter.com/z04QQpmZId

— Chicago Jay (@Chicago_Jay1) September 26, 2024

Per Sophia Chen of Crazy Luxury Homes, the property was originally designed in the early 20th century and has been "meticulously restored to offer a blend of elegance and modern comforts."

Amenities include a billiards room, home theater, study with a view of Lake Michigan, arcade room, indoor hockey rink and basketball court.

The home purchase came not long after Williams signed his four-year, $39.5 million fully-guaranteed rookie contract. The 22-year-old also has endorsement deals with Nissan, Beats by Dre, PlayStation and Dr. Pepper, among others.

Williams is off to a slow start through the first three games of his career. He did throw the first touchdown passes of his career in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, but he also threw two interceptions in the 21-16 loss.

The Bears have lost two of their first three games going into Sunday's showdown with the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field.

Caleb Williams has the full weight of the expectations that come with being a franchise quarterback and the No. 1 overall pick in his rookie season on his shoulders, and few would know what that's like better than Matthew Stafford.

Stafford was once the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft and going through the growing pains of being a rookie on the Detroit Lions. He believe Williams will work through those on the Chicago Bears and become a game-changing quarterback just like he did.

"Mine was tough for sure," Stafford told reporters Wednesday when discussing his rookie season. "We were a team in a lot of transition at that point. It's a long time ago, trying to remember all of it. There were some big-time highs and there were some big-time lows, as far as my play and our team's performance. It's all a learning opportunity [and] a chance to find what you can do [and] what you can't do.

"He's obviously immensely talented. He makes plays every single week that you see on TV that blow you away as a quarterback. I sit there and go, man, that is some incredible stuff. I'm sure there are plays he wants back, like all of us. He seems like a sharp kid, obviously, really talented. I'm sure he'll figure it out more and more as he continues to play. I'm sure he is going to have a great career."

Stafford threw for 2,267 yards, 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions as a rookie but eventually worked through those initial ups-and-downs to become a Super Bowl champion who is 11th on the NFL's all-time list in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Williams is a long way from that as a 1-2 quarterback for the Bears, but he has shown growth in each of his three games. After throwing for just 93 yards in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans and zero touchdowns to two interceptions in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he threw for 363 yards, two touchdowns and two picks against the Indianapolis Colts.

Caleb Williams' AND Rome Odunze's first career TD!

📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/u0ICGLXCz7

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

Now he will have a chance to continue that trend of improvement against Stafford's Rams, who are 29th in the league in passing yards allowed through the first three weeks.

If Keenan Allen returns to the field, Williams will have no shortage of weapons in Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. The offensive line has been an issue, but Chicago is surely hoping the overall offensive unit can find more consistency against a vulnerable Los Angeles defense.

If it does, Williams can have more of those plays that "blow you away" as the Bears look to get on track before the middle of his rookie campaign.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is on track to return from his heel injury before Sunday's Week 4 home game against the Los Angeles Rams "if all goes well," per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Allen returned to Bears practice on Wednesday for the first time since aggravating the injury in Week 1, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Good news for the #Bears: Veteran WR Keenan Allen, who has missed the last couple games with a heel injury, is back at practice today on a limited basis. He's tracking to return this week if all goes well.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2024

After making his Bears debut during a season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, Allen has been sidelined for losses to the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.

Allen re-joined practice in a limited capacity, per The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain.

The six-time Pro Bowl receiver was previously limited with the injury during the final week of training camp due to what general manager Ryan Poles described at the time as a "cleat issue" and was later identified by the team as a heel injury.

Listed as "questionable" on the Bears' final injury report heading into Week 1, Allen received a team-high 11 targets from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams against the Titans. He caught four passes for 29 yards prior to leaving the game with a visible limp in the fourth quarter.

Caleb Williams to Keenan Allen to convert the 4th down #DaBears

📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/0ZgG10mS3w

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Williams expressed excitement on Wednesday about the possibility of getting the former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers star back for Week 4.

"His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is gonna be great for us," Williams said on Wednesday, per Fishbain.

In Allen's absence rookie wideout Rome Odunze has thrived as a top target for Williams, setting career highs with six catches on 11 targets for 112 receiving yards and a touchdown in last Sunday's loss to the Colts.

He and leading wide receiver D.J. Moore could continue receiving a higher share of targets on Sunday should the Bears decide to ease Allen back into the lineup after his injury.

Allen's potential Sunday return could help Williams succeed behind an offensive line already struggling with consistency and now dealing with the potential loss of right tackle Darnell Wright, who missed practice on Wednesday with a back injury.

Head coach Matt Eberflus said he is "hopeful" Wright will "work through" his injury in order to play Sunday against the Rams, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Caleb Williams' NFL career has not gotten off to the hottest start, and the personnel around him may be to blame.

The Chicago Bears fell to 1-2 on the season after a 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Williams went 33-of-52 for 363 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and four sacks in the loss.

While the performance was an improvement in some ways for Williams, his interceptions and sacks were still a cause for concern. While he could certainly clean some things up, some around the league believe the offensive line and coaching staff deserve the majority of the blame.

"The Bears' problems, in my opinion, start with the offensive line and the construction of it," an evaluator told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "Then it's (offensive coordinator Shane) Waldron, especially when you look at the other coordinators in the division. He is clearly fourth. The head coach (Matt Eberflus) is fourth. Right now, the quarterback is surviving on his own."

Williams has thrown for 630 yards with two touchdowns, four interceptions and 13 sacks through the first three games. The bulk of those yards came in Sunday's game, but the sacks are the stat that is most concerning.

If Williams does not have the time to let plays develop, it will be difficult for him to show significant improvement. That limits the impact that receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen can have and also makes Williams more prone to mistakes.

Eberflus is in his third season with Chicago and has compiled an 11-26 record during his time with the franchise. This is the strongest roster he has had but it is also likely his last chance to save his job. Waldron is in his first season in the offensive coordinator role, but a potential Eberflus dismissal would likely signal the end of his job as well.

Williams still has plenty of time to improve, but the pressure is on everyone around him to make his development a little bit easier.

One NFL general manager cited Caleb Williams' pass protection as a major factor behind the early struggles of the Chicago Bears quarterback.

The GM told The Athletic's Mike Sando he doesn't "blame the quarterback at all" with the Bears sitting at 1-2 through Week 3.

"He is running for his life, just like he was at USC last year," the exec said of the No. 1 overall pick.

Another talent evaluator echoed those concerns to Sando and questioned Chicago's coaching.

"The Bears' problems, in my opinion, start with the offensive line and the construction of it," the evaluator said. "Then it's [offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron, especially when you look at the other coordinators in the division. He is clearly fourth. The head coach is fourth. Right now, the quarterback is surviving on his own."

Sunday's 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts saw Williams have 52 pass attempts, which isn't an ideal workload for the first-year signal-caller. He nonetheless remained optimistic about the offense's direction.

"Got our first two passing touchdowns of the year, which obviously feels good," he told reporters. "I think the offensive identity is brewing. I think it's a lot closer than it was the week before or weeks before, I think it's right there. I think we were one small detail away on a lot of these plays and that includes me."

Williams has thrown for 630 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions through three starts, and his 26.5 QBR ranks 29th in the league, per ESPN.com.

Some of the rookie's issues are attributable to the adjustment from college to the pros. Things that worked for him at USC, such as extending plays and improvising, are much less likely to come off in the NFL.

LOCKSMITH ON LOCK 🔐

📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/ac2b2Vprzu

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 16, 2024

But the offensive line issues are real. Williams' 13 sacks are tied for third-most in the league. In addition, head coach Matt Eberflus is the common denominator for an offense that hasn't shown much improvement despite adding a lot of pieces in the offseason.

The Vikings' offense is cooking with Sam Darnold

The Packers' offense has Malik Willis looking like a starter

The Bears can't score points with Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift https://t.co/6yX8NsHB1d

— Lorin Cox (@CoxSports1) September 22, 2024

It doesn't help that the Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-0 with Justin Fields at the helm, and he's looking more efficient than he was in 2023 with the Bears.

There's still a lot of time left in the season, yet some fans in the Windy City might already feel the team is destined to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

Perhaps there will be better days in the Caleb Williams experience for the Chicago Bears, but things once again looked bleak on Sunday.

It was more of the same for the futile Chicago offense in a 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The NFC North team is now 1-2 and continues to look lost on the offensive side with an abysmal offensive line and a rookie signal-caller going through early growing pains.

Williams threw for 363 yards and his first two career touchdowns, but he also turned it over three times and saw his yardage stats inflated by a first-half Hail Mary that fell a yard short of a touchdown and an offense in comeback mode in the second half against a soft defense.

Rookie to rookie 🙌

📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS pic.twitter.com/6sBrElwAJu

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 22, 2024

Caleb to Kmet! One-possession game in Indy.

📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/ygSCd60g1t

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

His counterpart, Anthony Richardson, was worse at 10-of-20 for 167 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions, but Jonathan Taylor accounted for 110 yards and two scores on the ground for the victorious Colts.

Social media had plenty to say about the performance from Williams and the Bears as a whole:

Bears & Colts fans watching this QB play pic.twitter.com/DXmN6TQDLL

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 22, 2024

Caleb Williams/Anthony Richardson battle is amazing if you only watch football via 8 second heavily edited TikTok clips

— B1G_Ryan (@B1G_Ryan) September 22, 2024

Caleb looks lost. The deep balls are off, the timing is off. It’s just not clicking yet.

— Brad Robinson (@bradrobinson8) September 22, 2024

Just hard to see what Caleb can consistently do with this OL right now unless he's perfect, which just won't happen.

— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) September 22, 2024

Caleb Williams vs Anthony Richardson is gonna create a truly hilarious behavior in the pocket montage.

— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) September 22, 2024

Bears/Colts is a fight amongst toddlers trying to tie their shoes

— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) September 22, 2024

This is up there for the worst-quarterbacked game I’ve ever seen in person.

— Funky Cold Luda (Taylor’s Version) (@lcm1986) September 22, 2024

Bears should fire their offensive coordinator at the half.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 22, 2024

You technically can! pic.twitter.com/g3EyPS0IxR

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 22, 2024

https://twitter.com/FuzzBeedEli/status/1837930586301718623

This is one of the worst football games I’ve ever watched, and I’ve watched a lot of Bears games over the years.

— Evan Altman (@DEvanAltman) September 22, 2024

The game is moving too fast right now for Caleb Williams. Even when he’s getting the time the defense is ahead of him. Easy reads for a DB when the QB is rattled.

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 22, 2024

Caleb Williams tells the punter he won’t be needed much because he will just throw picks instead

— Immortan Joe Mazzulla (@Handsome_Jake_) September 22, 2024

Both teams likely saw this as a get-right game going in, as Chicago's struggling offense that saw Williams throw two interceptions and get sacked seven times in a loss to the Houston Texans had a chance to go up against a Colts defense that entered play last in the league in rushing yards allowed.

With that as the backdrop, the start of the game was a dream for defensive players.

Richardson undercut his own deep ball to Alec Pierce with an atrocious interception in the end zone to Tremaine Edmunds, and Williams responded by following his own deep ball to Rome Odunze with a similarly terrible interception to Jaylon Jones.

Taylor's 29-yard touchdown run was the only score before intermission, as Chicago missed a field goal, fell a yard short when DJ Moore caught a Hail Mary and was stuffed on four straight running plays inside the Colts' 5-yard line, the last of which was an inexplicable speed option call that never had a chance.

Offense didn't get much better after halftime, as Richardson's interception to Jaylon Johnson set up a Bears' field goal before Williams threw another interception to Jones on a later possession. Indianapolis also failed a fourth-down attempt in Chicago territory, as the game got uglier.

However, the Colts finally broke through and opened a two-score late in the third quarter when Chicago went offside on a punt and allowed the home team to maintain possession. Indianapolis took advantage with a Trey Sermon touchdown after multiple long gains from Taylor.

Laiatu Latu with the clutch strip sack on Caleb Williams!

📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Anihnys69N

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

While Williams finally threw touchdown passes to Odunze and Cole Kmet in the fourth quarter, it was his mistake with the ball down five that cost the Bears the chance to win. He dropped back to pass on a play-action, didn't unleash a throw in time and then lost the ball on a strip-sack to Laiatu Latu.

Taylor scored after that as the Colts sent Chicago back home for a Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Caleb Williams will wear a wristband for the first time in his NFL career as the Chicago Bears face off against the Indianapolis Colts, according to NFL Network's Stacey Dales (h/t NFL Network's Ian Rapoport).

The rookie quarterback played the first two games of his career without one as Chicago finished with a 1-1 record.

Rapoport noted that Williams and the Bears made the change in order to have a "faster and cleaner operation" when calling plays.

Dales explained that the 22-year-old has worn a wristband previously, but plays will now be called directly off the band in order to make the first-year quarterback's life a bit easier.

The change should allow Williams to get in and out of the huddle faster, giving him more time to examine defenses before the ball is snapped. The Bears have been called for two delay-of-game penalties this season which is tied for the most among all NFL teams, per the Football Database.

Chicago's playbook can also expand with the latest switch, as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron told reporters that variety is important when asked about helping Williams adjust to the professional level.

"Having good variety, having a good mix of what we're asking him to do in different known passing situations right there," Waldron said on Thursday, via Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago. "Obviously, having the run game come to life in some of those scenarios as well and really being able to mix and match and play with some variety."

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft hasn't surpassed expectations to start his NFL career just yet, but it's still too early to hit the panic button. Through two starts, Williams has completed 56.1 percent of his throws for 267 yards and zero touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. He's also been sacked nine times, tied for the highest mark among all signal-callers.

Caleb Williams showing accuracy in a crowded pocket.

📺: #CHIvsHOU on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PAXNZnqKXu

— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024

As Williams faces off against a Colts team that owns the No. 9 passing defense in the NFL, he should have an easier time calling plays in the huddle.

Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards has been fined $16,883 for an unpenalized hip-drop tackle on Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday.

Mixon will be sidelined for Week 3 with an ankle injury, which he suffered after Edwards tackled him in the third quarter of the Bears' Week 2 loss last Sunday.

The NFL fined #Bears LB T.J. Edwards $16,883 for unnecessary roughness — a hip-drop tackle that injured #Texans RB Joe Mixon last week.pic.twitter.com/6e6F1UyuWG

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 21, 2024

The fine is part of the NFL's ongoing efforts to crack down on the newly-banned tackle. New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson and linebacker Darius Muasau were both fined for unpenalized hip-drop tackles in Week 1.

Following Week 2, the NFL levied fines for hip-drop tackles against Edwards as well as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and Los Angeles Rams defensive end Desjuan Johnson, per Pelissero.

None of the tackles subject to these fines were flagged as penalties on the field, Pelissero noted.

NFL owners unanimously voted in March to ban the hip-drop tackle ahead of the 2024 season after determining the tackle was 20 times more likely to injure players' lower extremities than other tackles, according to the league.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday that Edwards' play was "definitely" a hip-drop tackle, and that Mixon's injury showed why the league had banned the move.

Mixon similarly called for the NFL and NFLPA to "put your money where your mouth is" regarding enforcement of the ban when posting on social media after the game.

The Texans running back added that he was told by a referee on the field that the play wasn't a hip-drop tackle.

When I got up I asked the ref where is the flag that was a hip tackle. & his reply was no it wasn’t 🤦🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/A5fWjguzGH

— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) September 16, 2024

The Texans announced on Saturday that Mixon would not travel with the Texans to the team's Week 3 road game against the Minnesota Vikings. The running back has not yet been moved to the injured reserve, so Houston is apparently expecting him to return within four games, although he has yet to return to practice since the injury.

Edwards could meanwhile face steeper financial penalties if he is found committing another illegal tackle in the future. A second violation comes with a $22,511 price tag, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.

No. 1 overall draft pick and Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has struggled out of the gate, completing just 56.1 percent of his passes for 267 yards and two interceptions (no touchdowns) through two games.

However, the immensely talented, high-potential signal-caller has only played eight quarters, and he likely has plenty of good football ahead. In the meantime, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus revealed to reporters what the message is to the ex-USC star.

"Just be steady," Eberflus said (h/t Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago). "The NFL, if you want to ride the roller coaster, you can, but you don't have to. You have to be steady. You have to make sure that you're playing and you're processing and those things are coming together."

Eberflus added: "Caleb is 22 years old and going through this for the first time, and he's learning that process. He's got a good plan. He just has to stick to it, go about your business. You can listen to this, that, or the other thing. You can't listen to the outside noise. You have to be right, do right and you'll get the right result. He's doing that."

It's not uncommon for rookie quarterbacks who eventually turned into stars to struggle out of the gate. Examples include Peyton and Eli Manning, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman and Donovan McNabb, among many others. Not everyone can be Patrick Mahomes, who won an NFL MVP in his first full year as a starter.

Plus, Williams is dealing with a struggling pass-protection unit, especially in Week 2 during a 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans. Schrock provided more detail:

"He played much better in Week 2 but was the victim of a porous Bears' offensive line that allowed him to be sacked seven times and pressured on 23 of 48 dropbacks against the Houston Texans, per Next Gen Stats. The Bears' offensive line ranks 30th in pass-block win rate through two weeks, per ESPN stats."

Ultimately, there's no reason for anyone in Halas Hall (or Bears fans) to press the panic button. For now, Williams and the 1-1 Bears are focused on getting back over .500 when they visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.