The Chicago Bears continued training camp on Thursday with their 17th practice of the summer, and there was plenty to break down from the light workout — including the performance of quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams is entering his second season following a rocky rookie year that included two head coaches, three offensive coordinators, being sacked a league-high 68 times, a 10-game losing streak and a 5-12 record. But the Bears prioritized Williams’ development this offseason with the hiring of offensive guru Ben Johnson as head coach, overhauling the interior offensive line and adding even more weapons to the mix. All eyes will be on Williams this summer as he continues to learn Johnson’s offense and looks to find a rhythm heading into Year 2.
We’re taking a look at the good, the bad and the noteworthy with Williams from the 17th practice of Bears training camp:
The Good
Williams didn’t get off to the best start this week in practice with a rough outing on Monday, but he’s bounced back with back-to-back sharp outings. According to Zack Pearson said Williams had a good day, where he was sharp and connecting with wide receiver Rome Odunze on several occasions. Per Chris Emma, Williams “capped off a sharper practice in end-of-game scenario” with two completions to Odunze to set the offense up for a field goal. Emma noted Williams remains “in sync” with Olamide Zaccheaus. Courtney Cronin had high praise for Williams, saying “aside from the pre-snap errors during Wednesday’s practice, I think the last two days have been a strong showing from Caleb Williams. He was decisive in both two-minute drills and trusted different receivers.”
The Bad
Williams had a strong practice “from start to finish,” per Zack Pearson, where “he didn’t miss many throws and on one, you could argue Olamide Zaccheaus should have caught it. The pass was thrown in there with heat and Zaccheaus just couldn’t catch up to it.”
The Noteworthy
Second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze has been Williams’ favorite target for the past two days (and throughout camp), and the former first-round picks connected twice during the two-minute drill to set up a kick situation, per Chris Emma. Odunze has been “that dude” for the past two practices, per Scott Bair, including “two vital catches in a one-minute drill, finding ways to make big grabs despite tight coverage.” Herb Howard had high praise for Odunze, saying everyone should book the second-year wideout for 1,000 yards, and he expects between the 1,200-1,300 yard range for Odunze. Howard noted that Odunze’s chemistry with Williams is “undeniable” and that Williams “looks to him early and often, especially in critical situations.” Howard said Odunze “has been the picture of consistency and dependability.”
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
