Criticizing Caleb Williams seems like the low-hanging fruit to grab among the media these days. Perhaps that comes from being one of the most hyped quarterback prospects in years. People seem almost eager to see you fail, just to prove their narrative that you’re overrated. It is ridiculous and unfair. Yes, Williams had an inconsistent rookie season for the Chicago Bears. He took 68 sacks and played some ugly games where his fundamentals broke down constantly. Many were convinced his problems would never get fixed. He’s a lost cause.

At least one person already sees a difference one month into the 2025 NFL calendar year. Brian Baldinger is a former offensive lineman who spent a decade in the league. Since then, he’s become one of the most trusted tape analysts in the national media. He decided to take a look at Williams in the preseason finale against Kansas City. Where most people saw the same guy who flailed around uselessly last year, Baldinger saw something much different. He saw a young quarterback already starting to break those bad habits.

Caleb Williams is learning how to play quarterback.

What you saw in college at USC was a tremendous athlete who made things happen with natural talent. His ability to improvise and sling bombs was a big reason for his success. You rarely saw him play with timing and precision. The problem was that his style of play rarely works in the NFL. Defenses are too smart and too fast. To become a true success, you must learn to operate from the pocket and play within the structure of the offense. So many young quarterbacks get overwhelmed when confronted with this reality for the first time. There is a reason many have said college football is no longer a great developmental system for the position. It can take years to learn it.

Williams seems to have taken big steps forward. He’s unloading the ball on time much more often. His accuracy has improved. The footwork has improved. It is clear he has embraced the work necessary to grow his game. The fact that he hasn’t mastered it yet shouldn’t be surprising. Baldinger is correct. The bad habits aren’t gone, but they’re fading.

Nobody was more skeptical of Ben Johnson when the Chicago Bears hired him than Jaylon Johnson. You can understand why. The star cornerback has endured nothing but losing in his NFL career. He arrived in 2020 when the team finished 8-8, and that was the best record they’ve had since. He watched the decline of Matt Nagy and the slow implosion of Matt Eberflus. He’s heard all the speeches and assurances. There was no reason for him to think Johnson would be any different.

Fast-forward a few months, and his tune seems to have changed. Jaylon appeared on Night Cap with former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson. He was asked to describe what, if anything, impressed him about the new head coach.

There isn’t much dancing around those comments. They are a direct shot at Eberflus. The former Bears coach tended to use similar buzz words over and over, like “execute” or “time on task.” That is coach speak. Players nod along but don’t often grasp what is being said. Johnson can communicate at a more personable level, which makes it easier to grab their attention.

Jaylon Johnson can finally understand the message.

He had an idea of what Nagy and Eberflus wanted when they were in charge. The issue was that neither of them seemed able to convey their message clearly. Both relied on similar terminology, failing to grasp that players speak a different language in many ways. Ben Johnson doesn’t have that problem. His intelligence and outgoing personality have enabled him to learn how players communicate. This has helped him adjust his vocabulary in recent years so that they always understand what he wants from them. Being able to do this while also establishing a clear sense of hierarchy is a gift many head coaches don’t have. Jaylon Johnson can already sense it. He’s a smart guy, too. While he may not express excitement as openly as others, even he seems eager to see how this season unfolds.

The Chicago Bears concluded their preseason with a 2-0-1 record. The games don’t matter, but there were plenty of positive developments for this team. That said, Kansas City provided a sobering reminder of the vast gulf between the two teams. To become a contender, the Bears must learn to carry themselves like one. They have enough talent to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, they’ve often lacked the focus and will to maximize it. That said, this roster is not what you’d call armed and ready.

Plenty of areas look considerably stronger than last season, which is a great thing. However, the same can’t be said for others. Injuries and an overall lack of investment have left certain positions in questionable states. Last year, GM Ryan Poles made two trades after the preseason finale to acquire Chris Williams and Darrell Taylor. Could another shakeup be on the way for the Bears? Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune sure made it sound like such a possibility is high.

Poles’ history, even with a new coaching staff in place, can be informative the longer he’s in charge because you get a basic idea of the number of players the team likes to keep at each position. Different factors — health being the biggest one — can influence decisions each year, and a 53-man roster is never “set.” It’s always fluid.

I would bet top dollar the roster Tuesday afternoon after the wave of moves is announced will be different from the one the team has Thursday when it heads into a four-day weekend.

The Chicago Bears must determine how aggressive they want to be.

If Poles and head coach Ben Johnson believe the team is one more piece away from going after a playoff spot, they could aim high on the trade market. Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson are well-known options. Depending on how teams have assessed their own situations, there could be one or two others. Depth at cornerback is also an issue after injuries struck the position. The same goes for running back. Everything depends on who may or may not be available. More will be known as the final cut deadline approaches on August 26th. Trades usually happen two or three days before that. In other words, don’t stray far from your phones. Something might be coming soon.

Jahdae Walker had a night to remember in Kansas City on Friday. Up until then, most people had passing knowledge of him. He had a decent but unremarkable career at Texas A&M, becoming an undrafted free agent. He always had talent with good size and speed. It just never seems to manifest into anything big. Going into that preseason finale, Walker was one of the fringe players on the roster. He’d had a good training camp, but his chances to make the team felt up in the air. Then, in the span of one drive, everything changed. It started with one of the best catches of the entire preseason, right in front of wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.

It came on 1st down from the 13-yard line. Chicago had 1:29 to drive 87 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. They needed a spark. Walker provided it when he made one of the prettiest toe-tap catches you’ll ever see along the sideline.

That is stuff you expect from superstars of the game. For an undrafted rookie to pull it off is no small feat. It also makes it easier to understand Randle El’s reaction as it was happening. One opportunistic photograph caught the receiver’s coach with an equally unforgettable shot.

Antwaan Randle El deserves plenty of credit.

Walker isn’t the only young receiver who had a strong preseason. Maurice Alexander was another. The Bears got consistently good contributions from the position every week. That stems from the work Antwaan Randle El put in. He never relented on guys, running them through creative drills to prepare them for the challenges of facing the tough, physical coverage they’d see at this level. Nobody is more excited about their progress than he is. It is one of the reasons players love him. Plenty of people didn’t think Walker was capable of big-time plays like this. That is without mentioning the game-winning touchdown he also caught. Time will tell if Walker becomes anything serious in the NFL. Either way, it is great to see him blossom under the guidance of a good coach.

It wasn’t a great night for the Chicago Bears‘ starters in Kansas City. Confronted by the league’s current dynasty, the team was overmatched for much of the first half. Caleb Williams and the offense were riddled with miscues, leading to two punts on their first two drives. However, the bigger concern might’ve been the defense. Faced with their first real test of the year, they were basically run over by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense, who put up 20 points in the first half. What stood out the most was something fans have worried about for months.

The pass rush couldn’t get home.

Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Gervon Dexter failed to make Mahomes uncomfortable at all. No sacks and few pressures. This is exactly what people were worried about. They felt Sweat wasn’t enough to drive the pass rush. Odeyingbo may have been a big-name free agent, but he’s never been close to elite in any category. If that weren’t enough, the news got worse after the game. Head coach Ben Johnson revealed that Austin Booker, who’s been having a terrific preseason, will miss a few weeks with a knee injury.

The Chicago Bears have a legitimate pass rush concern.

Not only do their starters lack the overall juice you’d prefer, but their depth is an even bigger concern with Booker out. Beyond Sweat and Odeyingbo, you’re looking at guys like Dominique Robinson, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Daniel Hardy, and Jamree Kromah. That group does not inspire much confidence. It would be shocking if the Chicago Bears don’t add somebody to the mix in the coming days. Final cuts take place on August 26th. GM Ryan Poles could be active on the waiver wire searching for help, or he might seek an option on the veteran market. Is a trade possible? Yes, but unless they’re willing to give up major resources for Trey Hendrickson or Micah Parsons, they will unlikely find a difference-maker. Good luck is needed to resolve this problem. Otherwise, Dennis Allen must get creative with his blitz packages this year.

The Chicago Bears preseason was fun. The Bears did not lose a game. Ben Johnson has definitely created a new culture and the players are all bought in. However, one Bears rookie has made it very difficult. This player WR Jahdae Walker out of Texas A&M.

The Chicago Bears preseason was nothing short of fun—they didn’t lose a single game, and it’s clear Ben Johnson has already created a new culture that the players have fully bought into. But one rookie, in particular, has made things very interesting: wide receiver Jahdae Walker out of Texas A&M.

Walker has quietly put together an impressive preseason. He’s tied for 16th in receiving yards (98), tied for 20th in touchdowns (2), and tied for 2nd in yards per catch (12.3). His breakout moment came against the Chiefs on Friday night. Early in the final drive, he hauled in a toe-tap catch along the sideline. Then, he capped it off by catching the game-winning touchdown from Tyson Bagent.

And he wasn’t done yet. On the following kickoff with just two seconds left, it was Walker who made the special teams tackle to seal the win. That type of all-around impact—making plays on offense and contributing on special teams—makes him a strong candidate for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Walker Has All The Tools

At 6 foot 3, Walker brings size, speed, playmaking ability, and energy wherever he lines up. If the Bears were to cut him, there’s little doubt another team would scoop him up quickly—maybe even their Week 1 opponent Minnesota Vikings, who will be without Jordan Addison due to suspension.

Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson have tough roster decisions ahead, but keeping Walker shouldn’t be one of them. He’s done everything you could ask for in camp and preseason, and he looks like a player the Bears can’t afford to let slip away.

Caleb Williams & The Chicago Bears Are Going to Be Really Good

One would think Ben Johnson was happy with how the Chicago Bears‘ preseason finale unfolded. Despite falling behind 20-3 at one point, they battled their way back in the second half to steal a 29-27 victory in the final seconds. Such an assumption would be the furthest from the truth. Johnson was not happy with his team despite the final result. He’s not naive. Many of the problems that dropped the Bears into that early hole came from the starting units. The offense had to punt on its first two drives because of sloppy mistakes that brought back memories of last year. Defensively, they couldn’t pressure Patrick Mahomes, and the special teams were off.

If you thought Johnson would keep those thoughts to himself, you’re wrong again. The Bears head coach wasted no time laying into his players during his post-game press conference. He expressed disappointment and frustration in their execution after what he felt was their best week of work before and after the Bills game last week. He thought the mistakes had been ironed out. Kansas City disabused them of that. He didn’t sugarcoat things. This team needs to get a lot better. What he saw was unacceptable across the board.

Ben Johnson continues to prove he’s not afraid to tell the truth.

Players have egos. You don’t get to this level of professional sports without one. Good head coaches are ready and willing to hurt those egos when necessary. The moment players start thinking their crap doesn’t stink is the moment they lose games. Ben Johnson had no intention of sparing the Bears’ feelings. His job is to tell them what they needed to hear, and what they needed to hear was that their play sucked. This team has standards. There is no explaining away bad performances. No excuses. Johnson expects perfection. If you don’t do your job, expect to hear about it. This is not something the head coach will keep in-house. That often isn’t the best way to get a guy’s attention.

Tyson Bagent, the Chicago Bears backup quarterback, signed a two-year contract extension on August 20, 2025, keeping him with the team through the 2027 season. The deal is worth $10 million, with potential incentives that could raise it to $16 million. Bears GM Ryan Poles decision is already looking brilliant.

In Friday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Bagent delivered a very impressive performance, leading the Bears to a comeback victory at Arrowhead. His stats from the game:

Completions/Attempts: 20/28

Passing Yards: 212

Touchdowns: 3 (including the game-winner)

Interceptions: 0

Bagent capped the performance with a crucial game-winning drive, showing he can handle pressure even in a preseason setting against a team like Kansas City.

He went 2-2 as a starter while filling in for Justin Fields, proving he can step up when called upon. While Bagent clearly wants a chance to start in the NFL, it’s unlikely that opportunity will come in Chicago. Still, he’s one of the league’s top backup quarterbacks, and Poles decision to extend him is already proving wise. Bagent will continue to push Caleb Williams and help him improve as the season progresses. The Bears also did an excellent job securing a young quarterback who said a major reason for signing the deal was the opportunity to continue to work with Ben Johnson and his coaching staff.

Caleb Williams & The Chicago Bears Are Going to Be Really Good

It was a frustrating night for the Chicago Bears starters at times. The defense, playing without four key guys, allowed 20 points in the first half. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams and the offense failed to get going in the first quarter, punting on the first two drives. The Kansas City Chiefs looked like the well-oiled machine they’ve been for years. That said, the Bears didn’t let that ruin their night. Williams and the offense responded with 10 points in the 2nd quarter, including a long 12-play drive against the Chiefs’ starting defense. It wasn’t always pretty, but the response was nice to see.

However, all of the knee-jerk reactions from it masked perhaps the most encouraging element the Bears showed. The offensive line played well. D’Andre Swift averaged four yards per carry, and there was decent movement up front despite the Bears not starting Joe Thuney. Even better was the pass protection. There were clean pockets for much of the first half. Kansas City managed only one sack, and it came on a play where Williams held the ball too long and failed to get rid of it.

The Chicago Bears got some much-needed lessons from that game.

A humbling night against the league’s current dynasty was just the douse of cold water this team needed after their 38-0 romp over Buffalo last week. It was a good reminder that they still have lots of work to do. Yet to see the offensive line play like that is so encouraging. Kansas City has one of the league’s better defensive fronts with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. Being able to hold your ground against them without your best blocker is no small thing. Remember, the Chicago Bears didn’t do much scheming. Head coach Ben Johnson mostly had players go man-to-man along the line, and guys held up. That speaks to the good work done by offensive line coach Dan Roushar. This process won’t be perfect, but the team is trending in the right direction.