If pressure makes diamonds, the Bears can speak in absolutes when referring to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as a gem. Williams and the Bears lick their wounds and take to the road for the second consecutive game with a short trek to Indianapolis on Sunday. Chicago plans "no changes" to personnel protecting Williams, and head coach Matt Eberflus is confident the growing pains won't be quite as literal moving forward.
The Texans sacked Williams seven times Sunday night in Houston and hit him in the pocket on four other plays, not including the sideline blast at the chains by Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. "There's some great learning moments there in terms of the pressure," Eberflus said. Depending on who fields the question, Williams, the No.
1 pick in the 2024 draft, has lacked either the protection or the patience to utilize the array of weapons the Bears proudly assembled around him in the offseason. He enters Week 3 as the team's leading rusher with 59 yards and has only one completion over 20 yards, no touchdown passes and was sacked nine times in his first two NFL games. After going 5-for-5 on the opening drive at Houston, the Texans sent heavy pressure.
On plays he was pressured, Williams' completion percentage dipped below 35 percent for a total of 33 yards with two interceptions. "I'm a little bruised up still. Body-wise, moving all of that, I feel good throwing and running around," Williams said Wednesday.
The Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat t.