Chicago Bears Q&A: Is it too early to compare Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels? And what’s causing the mess in the run game?
Caleb Williams’ first two NFL touchdown passes weren’t enough to lift the Chicago Bears past the Indianapolis Colts in a sloppy 21-16 loss. Now, with the Los Angeles Rams coming to Soldier Field, the Bears are trying to avoid a 1-3 start.
Despite Williams’ best performance so far, some are already questioning whether the Bears made the right choice on draft day, especially after Jayden Daniels’ record-breaking game on Monday. The Tribune’s Brad Biggs addresses this in his weekly Bears mailbag.
“Don’t tell me the Bears picked the wrong quarterback again,” @tonymolini1 asked.
While it’s too early to make such a judgment, I will note that a defensive coordinator from another team texted me Tuesday morning asking the same thing.
Jayden Daniels delivered an outstanding performance Monday night, leading the Washington Commanders to a 38-33 upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The No. 2 draft pick completed 21 of 23 passes, setting a rookie record with a 91.3% completion rate, while throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 39 rushing yards and a score. So far this season, he’s completing 80.3% of his passes and ranks fourth in the NFL in both passer rating (111.8) and yards per attempt (8.7).
Now, let’s pump the brakes a bit.
“Oh boy,” a veteran pro scout texted. “Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.”
It’s definitely too early to make any firm comparisons between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. It’s worth noting that the Bengals’ defense has been struggling. That said, Washington doesn’t have the best offensive line situation either—something that becomes clear if you’ve watched another rookie quarterback. Daniels has been sacked nine times, tied for ninth-most in the league, and his supporting cast at the skill positions isn’t as strong as what Williams has in Chicago.
One key difference is that the Commanders have been able to establish a solid running game, averaging 153.7 yards per game, ranking fifth in the NFL. Daniels has contributed significantly, accounting for 171 of the team’s 461 rushing yards (37%), with only Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens having more rushing yards among quarterbacks.
Williams, meanwhile, had a solid game and showed noticeable improvement in the Bears’ 21-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. He set a Bears rookie record with 363 passing yards, completing 33 of 52 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
If Williams were truly struggling, it might be easier to question the Bears’ decision. But he’s not. There’s still a lot of football left this season, and the Bears seem pleased with his progress, especially given the offensive line challenges and the lack of a reliable running game.
