The Chicago Bears kick off their season in less than a week, taking on the Minnesota Vikings under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. It will be a big test for the Bears and new head coach Ben Johnson, who has a strong track record against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Back in Detroit, Johnson’s Lions routinely put up 30+ points on Flores defense.
Of course, this is a different Bears team. But there’s one potential change worth noting — and it won’t affect the game itself. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams could be switching jersey numbers. Right now, he’s wearing No. 18, but there’s a chance he moves back to No. 13, the number he wore at USC.
Why? Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III might have opened the door. Last week, Burden switched from No. 87 to No. 13. Then, late Monday evening, he switched again — this time to No. 10. That leaves No. 13 wide open, sparking speculation that Williams could claim it. Was Burden simply being indecisive, or did he make the change with Williams in mind?
Imagine the scene if Williams runs out of the Soldier Field tunnel wearing No. 13. It would be a moment — unless you already bought an 18 jersey. Then again, keeping No. 18 for his rookie year could make those jerseys iconic in their own right.
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If Williams does decide to switch, he would likely need to buy out the existing No. 18 stock, which could cost him a pretty penny. For now, it’s just something to watch as Week 1 approaches.
