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Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams Breaks Rookie Franchise Record In Loss

After a rough Sunday Night Football showing against the Houston Texans, former USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams's rookie woes continue in week three, but he has thrown his first touchdown pass of his career.

Kyron Samuels

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) jumps over Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) while evading tackle Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) jumps over Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) while evading tackle Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. / Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Chicago Bears, fresh off a Sunday Night Football loss, lost to the Indianopolis Colts in week three 21-16. Rookie quarterback and first-overall pick Caleb Williams is coming off a performance against the Houston Texans where he struggled, but found ways to be semi-productive and had correctable mistakes.

In the fourth quarter, Williams threw the first touchdown pass of his early NFL career. Before Williams' one-yard pass to Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, none of the rookie quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL draft had thrown a touchdown.

Williams finished with 363 passing yards, breaking the record for the most passing yards thrown by a Bears rookie in franchise history.

Despite the career milestones, Williams' performance throughout the game has been filled with struggles, and the Bears lost to the Colts 21-16. While he is still a rookie in only his third NFL game, Williams will need to rectify these errors and fast as the Bears are a team looking to compete for playoff position this season.

Through the first three quarters, Williams threw two interceptions and was sacked twice. Both interceptions were totally avoidable and plays where he forced the ball to places he shouldn’t have. Part of the Allure of Williams as a prospect is his ability to create off-script and make fantastic plays.

However, at the NFL level, Williams will have to learn discernment for when to turn that ability on, when to operate on time, and also when to understand when plays are dead and to live to see another down.

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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