Caleb Williams: Rookie year has been 'frustrating and encouraging'
Quarterback Caleb Williams gave a humbling response Monday after being asked to describe his rookie season following the Chicago Bears' 30-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
"It's been frustrating and encouraging," Williams said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I would say the frustrating part is obviously we're on a - how many games now, eight? - yeah, eight-game losing streak. Like I've said before, it's new to me. I haven't experienced anything like this. That's the frustrating part. The encouraging part is how much we fight as a team."
Williams appeared to be shaken up by a hit from Vikings linebacker Jihad Ward in the fourth quarter. The Bears signal-caller remained on the ground for a few moments before getting back on his feet. Broadcast cameras appeared to show him in pain when he returned to the bench.
The USC product finished the contest completing 18 of 31 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. After enduring a four-game stretch where he didn't pass for a TD, Williams has thrown for a score in each of his past four outings.
The Bears surrendered two sacks, helping extend league-worst 58 for Williams with three games left in the season.
"Getting hit, especially when you can't deliver a hit to somebody as in like run the ball, you take those over an amount of time and it builds up," Williams said.
The Bears have struggled to assemble any consistency on offense despite boasting talented receivers such as DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. Chicago ranks 31st in passing yards (181.9) and total offense (289.6) per game.
Williams has shown glimpses of the potential that had made him a coveted prospect this past spring. The 2024 first overall pick has thrown for 2,937 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions for a 87.7 passer rating. He's also rushed for 408 yards.
After firing Matt Eberflus in late November, Chicago made Thomas Brown interim head coach less than three weeks after elevating him from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator when Shane Waldron was dismissed.