Bears' Williams centered on Week 1 win, not stats

LAKE FOREST, Sick. — Since age 9, Caleb Williams has envisioned what all the massive moments of his soccer profession would appear and feel like: successful the Heisman Trophy (which he did at USC in 2022), being drafted No. 1 total and his first regular-season begin as an NFL quarterback.

When requested Wednesday — 4 days forward of the Chicago Bears‘ season opener in opposition to the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Subject — how the Bears QB would really feel if coaches resolve to not process the rookie with finishing up heavy manufacturing within the passing sport, Williams stated he could be comfy it doesn’t matter what the sport plan entails.

“Run the ball and win the sport? That is it,” Williams stated. “If we come out and resolve that the offensive line is dominating and vast receivers are dominating blocks, we’re extending runs and issues like that, coach at all times talks about again aspect wins championships, entrance aspect wins video games and issues like that. If we received guys on the market giving that kind of power and we’re handing the ball off and we’re getting, I do not know, 5 [yards] a pop, I imply, it is exhausting to beat that.

“If that is the case, that is the case. So long as we get a win. As a result of final time I remembered, the wins are an important factor. And so so long as we get that win, on the finish of the day, 100 yards, 400, all of it turns into the identical.”

Williams appeared in two preseason video games, throughout which he accomplished 10 of 20 passes for 170 yards with a 79.2 passer ranking and recorded a 7-yard speeding landing. Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated there will likely be moments within the early elements of video games and on early downs when the staff wants the quarterback to “play level guard” whereas distributing the ball to the gamers round him as a part of an environment friendly operation.

“I am excited to see him,” Eberflus stated. “And I am excited [for Williams] to lean in and lean on his teammates. As a result of that is what it’s a must to do with a quarterback. He is received guys round him which have performed numerous years. And once more, he is a rookie. So, he is simply been leaning on these guys and getting the ball to these guys and allow them to do their work. We’ve to do a great job of defending. However yeah, simply leaning in and leaning on his teammates.”

Williams earned the beginning job in Chicago previous to his first apply at rookie minicamp in Could. Over the previous 4 months, his management led him to being the one first-year participant to be named a season-long captain because the Bears formally started appointing them in 2007.

The impact that Williams’ on-field skill and poise has on his teammates is noticeable.

“The expectation is what it at all times is: successful,” vast receiver Keenan Allen stated. “Irrespective of who the quarterback is, you need to win. I would not quite be with one other man proper now than Caleb. He is gotten higher ever since we began. The boldness is thru the roof.”

Williams will take a second throughout pregame warmups Sunday to understand this subsequent step in his soccer journey. It is a second the 22-year-old signal-caller has been dreaming of for years.

“When ft contact the grass, it may be enterprise as common,” Williams stated. “Once I run out the stadium, form of do some spin within the tunnel, after I’m popping out the tunnel, simply form of see the stadium, take all of it in and really feel the power, the vibe and get going from there. As soon as I do my spin and get all the way down to the sideline, it is go time.”