It’s time to kick off the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Game, as the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears make their preseason debut at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Chicago drafted and signed a slew of new players, including first overall pick Caleb Williams, their quarterback of the future. But will he see the field tonight?
The Latest on What We Know About Caleb Williams Suiting Up Against the Houston Texans
Earlier this week, Williams told reporters, “I would love to get out there and play. It’s pretty awesome to be at Canton, but it’s the coach’s decision.
“I always think there’s more pros than cons in anything, especially for a young guy like myself. The reps are always paramount for anybody like myself, a young rookie, a second-year guy, a third-year guy, it’s paramount. It’s really important and we’ll see about these preseason games coming, how they will play out.”
Unfortunately for Bears and NFL fans, though, everyone must wait at least one more week to see Williams’ NFL debut.
On Tuesday, Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters that Williams and the other Bears starters would sit for the Hall of Fame Game. While not surprising — coaches don’t want to risk injury to their star players, especially with an extra preseason game for the Bears and Texans — fans are anxious to see the quarterback’s first NFL action.
This means second-year quarterback Tyson Bagent will start for Chicago tonight. Bagent played in five games last year when Justin Fields went down with a dislocated thumb. He will compete against Brett Rypien and Austin Reed for the backup quarterback position. More details can be found in our Bears QB Depth Chart breakdown.
How to Watch Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
Here’s when and where to watch tonight’s 2024 Hall of Fame Game.
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN, ABC
- Live stream options: ESPN App, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV
What To Expect From Williams in 2024
The Bears made quite a few moves this offseason to build upon a roster already starting to take shape. The most significant piece missing was under center. While Fields hadn’t been awful, the offense wasn’t consistently taking the next step with him.
It’s worth noting the Bears lined up the trade to get Williams perfectly. After securing the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, the Bears traded it to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024 and WR DJ Moore, among other selections.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
While Carolina took QB Bryce Young at No. 1 in 2023, he struggled as the Panthers fielded a below-average roster. With a 2-15 record, Carolina found itself back at the top of the NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, the pick was not theirs to make. With Chicago owning the No. 1 pick, the Bears selected Williams and still had the No. 9 overall selection to bolster the offense even further — using it to draft Rome Odunze to add to Moore (who just got a massive contract extension) and Keenan Allen to the WR room.
Additionally, after drafting tackle Darnell Wright with the 10th pick in 2023, the Bears signed some more depth this offseason with guard Matt Pryor and center Coleman Shelton joining the fray. RB D’Andre Swift also signed with the team to create a two-headed rushing attack between him and Khalil Herbert.
With all these additions, one question remains: Is Williams ready for the speed and pace of the NFL? If he is, the window is open reasonably soon for the Bears to return to the top of the NFC North.
However, if Williams needs time, it’s best to let him grow and look toward a postseason appearance in the next few seasons. Either way, the Bears have set Williams up for success with the investment in the offense over the past two offseasons.
Caleb Williams’ Scouting Report Entering the 2024 NFL Draft
PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings had this to say in Caleb Williams’ scouting report leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Williams grades out as a top-five prospect and a legitimate QB1 contender in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a blue-chip QB talent, who along with North Carolina’s Drake Maye is very much worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. He could be a franchise-changing presence.
“At 6’1″, 215 pounds, Williams is one of the most prolific, natural creators to hit the NFL Draft circuit over the past decade. At times, he resembles a magician with his ability to control the field and make something out of nothing.
“Not only is Williams a fluid athlete with impressive change of direction, play strength, and functional speed, but he has uncommon instincts as a creator in space, and his effortless off-platform throwing ability makes him a two-phase threat from snap to whistle.
“Williams creates at a level rarely seen, but he also has the traits to win as a passer, both from within and outside the pocket. He’s a good processor who has great leverage IQ and pressure sense. And unlike many creators, he doesn’t bail from the pocket to a fault. He knows how to manage his spacing and manipulate throwing windows under center.
“Williams’ combination of creation ability and hyper-elite arm talent is his most marketable trait, and contrary to a prevalent belief, Williams doesn’t force passes or invite risk by nature.
“As a passer, he’s actually fairly measured, with good discretion and risk propensity. He directs the RPO game well and takes calculated risks.”