Williams’ Deep Ball Inaccuracy Lingers Into Bears Camp
The Chicago Bears were hoping for major strides from Caleb Williams in Year 2, but one issue still stands out. Through two days of training camp, the 2024 first overall pick continues to struggle with deep throws.
Bears insider Mark Grote said Thursday, “It was kind of a rough day for Caleb in terms of some of the deep ball stuff… He was missing long shots down the field.”
That’s a red flag for a team counting on its young quarterback to lead an explosive offense. Williams’ inability to connect deep plagued his rookie campaign. Per Underdog Network, he had the worst PFF grade on throws of 15+ yards in 2024 and ranked dead last in accuracy on 20+ yard attempts.
Why the Bears Still Have Hope
Despite the concerns, the Bears aren’t in panic mode. Williams was thrown into chaos last season. He played behind a porous offensive line and was often asked to stay in the pocket, something he rarely did at USC.
New head coach Ben Johnson brings structure and creativity. In Detroit, Johnson helped Jared Goff lead the league in completion percentage by scheming receivers wide open. His system rarely depended on deep bombs to move the chains.
Even better, Chicago’s revamped offensive line should give Williams more time to work and build rhythm.
The Bears need Williams to improve, but his success won’t hinge on deep throws alone. With a more QB-friendly offense and a stronger line, there’s still reason to believe he’ll take a leap in Year 2.
Read More: Eagles Cut Rookie Lineman on Day One of Camp
