Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s greatest task is to get quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, to reach the heights general manager Ryan Poles and Co. envisioned when they selected him.
He missed plenty of throws, particularly those further down the field. Still, Johnson set a high benchmark he wants Williams to reach this year.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Faces Historic Challenge
Caleb Williams Gets New Goal From Bears
Williams set rather general goals for himself. Most QBs compare their growth in a system from Year 1 to Year 2. He does not have that luxury. Instead, Williams echoed Johnson’s desire to see him complete 70% of his passes.
Williams also wants to be the first Bears QB to pass for 4,000 yards.
“We have not put, ‘You have to complete 60% this day, 65[%] the next day,’ we haven’t done that. We certainly have goals that we strive for. I won’t even – it’s not a secret. I told him I would love for him, on the season, to complete 70% of his balls. So, you would like to think over the course of practice that we’re completing 70% or more. That’s hard to just magically arise in a game,” Johnson told reporters on July 22.
“It’s a lofty goal, but it’s one that we’re going to strive for. And so, because of that, we’re going to use that as our benchmark and kind of work from there.”
Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions on 62.5% completion.
“Obviously, I have self-goals, and that’s being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history. That’s a goal of mine. 70% completion. That helps the team, keeps us on the field, puts us in better positions. And then, other than that, just trying to go down and score the most points that we can with each drive that we have,” Williams told reporters on July 22..
“That’s kind of my self-goal. And, obviously, other than that, you got to go win. That’s success for me, that’s success for the team, and that’s all we wish for, and all I wish for.”
Four QBs started at least 10 games and completed 70% or more of their passes, per Stathead. One of them was Johnson’s former QB with the Detroit Lions, Jared Goff, whose 72.9% mark was second among the group behind Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.
No passers checked both boxes in 2022 or 2023. Only 21 have done it in NFL history, none for the Bears.
Bears (Mostly) Healthy
The Bears went through the entire offseason program without seeing their starting left tackle, Braxton Jones, or tight end Colston Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, on the field.
Jones is recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered last season, which required surgery.
Loveland is in a similar boat. His issue is with his shoulder. He was at least able to don a red non-contact jersey and do some running and catching passes against no defense.
“I’m proud of the guys that had previous injuries coming off of last year,” Poles told reporters on July 22, singling out Jones and Loveland. “Those guys put in a ton of work alongside our trainers … to return and be ready to go for training camp. So, we’re excited to get those guys back going again. I’m sure there’s going to be a ramp-up period. They haven’t played football in a while. But really, they’re ready to go and knock that rust off and get going.”
Johnson readily acknowledged that Jones will be in a training camp competition with 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie and, more notably, rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo for the starting left tackle job.
Poles also noted that backup quarterback Case Keenum and fellow reserves, running back Ian Wheeler and wide receiver Jahdae Walker, are all officially off the Active/Non-Football injury list.
Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is dealing with a “leg injury” and remains on NFI.
“Not going to get into the details of that,” Poles said. “It is going to take a few weeks before he can come back. We got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back. I’m sure we’ll have updates as we go through training camp, but it’s going to take a little bit of time. But not overly concerned about long-term.”
Johnson appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” on July 16 and said he was feeling good while settling into his new home in Las Vegas, where he spent the offseason. Johnson is also eager to get back to the negotiating table after the CB market has exploded in the past year.
Grady Jarrett No Ramp-Up
Ben Johnson spoke about the “race” to the regular season and the Bears’ Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, and Williams also echoed those sentiments.
Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett may have delivered the most poignant message players can take with them as they embark on what figures to be a strenuous training camp.
For Jarrett, there is no “ramp-up period” in training camp.
“I think the key is not ramping up,” Jarrett told reporters on July 22. “The key is going balls to the wall every day. And I think that’s what’s really helped me in my longevity, is just going hard day in and day out. And this is the time where you really callous your body, get it right so you can go sustain a long season and be healthy. Because this going to be the hardest time of the season. We should make this the hardest time of the season. Because … from a physical standpoint, the demands throughout the week won’t be as heavy … until we get to the game day.
“It’s time to get hard, time to really challenge yourself, whether it’s physically, mentally, emotionally, and you really push yourself to see how far you can go. And when the time do come, and that game time do come, you know what you got in the tank, what you got in the trunk to go reach back and get the job done.”
Jarrett said the players must “push” themselves. He added that, while respecting the sports science of keeping players healthy, “from the mindset and the effort standpoint, why not put your best foot forward every day and let the rest take care of itself?”
New Additions
The Bears welcome new faces to start camp the fourth straight season under Poles. They followed the pattern this year with cornerback Tre Flowers and defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Flowers, 30, was a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. The 6-foot-3 DB has experience across the secondary. However, he has just 4 interceptions (his last was in 2022) and has battled injuries.
He offers a versatile, physical presence while Johnson is sidelined.
Kpassagnon, 31, is 6-foot-7 and nearly 290 pounds. A Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. That was two years after they made him the No. 59 overall pick of his draft class. He has 16.5 career sacks and is in the mold of fellow free agent pickup Dayo Odeyingbo.
The Bears also worked out Pro Bowl wide receiver DJ Chark, per reports. He did not sign with the Bears at this time.