Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams faced a humbling moment in Week 2 when the Chicago Bears pulled him late in their lopsided defeat to the Detroit Lions.
Detroit dominated the matchup at Ford Field on September 14, rolling to a 52-21 victory. With just under eight minutes remaining, head coach Ben Johnson turned to backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who finished the game by leading Chicago’s final two possessions.
Williams admitted the decision stung.
“It’s tough when your teammates are still out there competing and you’re stuck on the sideline,” Williams said. “You invest so much time and effort, so of course it’s frustrating. But at the end of the day, it was coach’s call, and you’ve got to accept it and move forward.”
The former No. 1 overall draft pick showed maturity in his response, emphasizing that his role as the Bears’ starter is not in jeopardy. Williams will be under center again when Chicago hosts the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
“In that moment, I was just thinking about ways I could help,” Williams added. “Whether it’s offering feedback to the guys or finding something to spark momentum, the focus has to be on how to get us rolling again.”
Bears Still Value Bagent, but Williams Is Their QB1
Despite giving Bagent late-game snaps, the Bears remain committed to Williams. Chicago recently demonstrated faith in Bagent by extending him on a two-year, $10 million deal that keeps him with the team through 2027. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Bagent has earned the trust of the organization, but not to the point of threatening Williams’ job.
Most likely, Johnson’s move was designed to protect Williams in a contest that was already well out of reach. Still, Williams noted that many of Chicago’s other starters remained on the field even after he was pulled.
Mistakes Continue to Haunt Williams Early in Career
Statistically, Williams put up a mixed performance: 19-of-30 passing for 207 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also added 27 rushing yards on five carries, but he was sacked four times, losing 29 yards in the process.
The interception stood out as a turning point. Facing second-and-32 from deep in Bears territory while trailing by only a score, Williams forced a throw on the run that overshot Olamide Zaccheaus and landed in the arms of Lions safety Kerby Joseph.
“He just has to throw that one away,” Johnson said afterward.
Williams agreed with the critique.
“I rolled out and tried to make a play when I should’ve just let it go,” he admitted. “I expected Zaccheaus to go high, but he cut underneath instead. That’s on me.”
Through two weeks, Williams’ biggest hurdles have been missing routine throws and forcing plays under pressure. Both tendencies have led to costly errors. With a crucial matchup against Dallas looming, fixing those issues will be at the top of Chicago’s to-do list.
