The long wait is finally over. Chicago Bears football is almost back. In just a few days, the team will hit the field for their first training camp practice. While the full squad reports next week, rookies, quarterbacks, and injured players checked into Halas Hall on Saturday, kicking things off early. And all eyes are on Caleb Williams as he heads into a crucial second season. After a strong rookie year, the Bears have gone all-in to support their young QB. They brought in offensive guru Ben Johnson as HC, beefed up the offensive line, and added even more weapons to the offense. The stage is set for Williams to take a big leap. 

But not all the news from camp is good. The Bears just made a tough announcement about one of their QBs, putting a veteran on the injury list. Still, with Williams looking sharper than ever, there’s plenty of reason to stay hopeful. So what’s the deal with this QB shakeup? Well, turns out the Bears’ new backup plan just hit a minor snag right out of the gate. Chicago brought in veteran QB Case Keenum this offseason to add some experience behind Caleb Williams, but things aren’t off to the smoothest start. Just as training camp gets rolling, the Bears placed Keenum on the non-football injury list – a surprising move since there hadn’t been any earlier reports of a setback.

At 37 years old, Keenum missed all of last season with the Texans. And now this early camp absence gives Tyson Bagent a real shot to lock down the QB2 job. Keenum’s no stranger to bouncing around the league. He’s played for eight different teams over 11 seasons, putting up solid numbers (15,175 yards, 79 TDs) while mostly serving as a reliable backup. The Bears signed him to a one-year, $2.25 million deal, hoping he’d push Bagent for that No. 2 spot. But with Keenum sidelined for now, Bagent gets a head start. The former undrafted QB already knows the system and has shown flashes in limited action, making this an interesting battle to watch.

Of course, the real story is Caleb Williams – the Bears’ future is firmly in his hands. But behind him, every rep matters. If Keenum can get healthy soon, he’ll have ground to make up. If not, Bagent might just secure the backup role by default. While the Bears sort out their backup situation, the real buzz at Halas Hall surrounds Caleb Williams.

Caleb Williams faces elevated expectations

Williams’ rookie season wasn’t a disappointment, no matter how hard some folks try to spin it. Sure, the noise got loud. Jayden Daniels’ breakout year in Washington, the Bears’ coaching chaos, and the endless hot takes about whether Williams lived up to the hype. It all created this weird narrative that his actual performance wasn’t good enough. But strip all that away, and the numbers tell a different story. 3,500 yards, 20 TDs, just six picks, and an NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes without an interception. For context, that’s better than Trevor Lawrence’s or Joe Burrow’s debut seasons. But somehow Williams ended up as the guy with something to prove.

Now, the Bears have done everything short of hiring a personal chef to make sure Williams erupts in Year 2. They didn’t just fire Matt Eberflus – they went out and got Ben Johnson, the offensive wizard who turned Detroit’s attack into must-watch football. As Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame put it: “Johnson served as offensive coordinator for three years in Detroit, and his offenses ranked fourth, third, and second, respectively. With an offensive-minded coach, better skill-position talent, and a vastly improved line, Williams should be improved in 2025.“

But here’s what’s interesting: The Bears didn’t stop at coaching. They completely rebuilt the trenches, signing two new starting linemen to keep Williams upright. They added another explosive receiver to pair with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Even the playbook got overhauled – Johnson’s system thrives on creative route combinations and play-action, perfect for a QB with Williams’ improvisational magic.

The pressure isn’t just about stats, though. This is about legacy. Chicago hasn’t had a true franchise QB for long. Williams has the arm talent, the swagger, and now the support system to change that. Williams has the arm talent, the swagger, and now the support system to change that. Around league circles, the expectation is clear: With this roster and coaching staff, anything less than a Pro Bowl-caliber jump would raise eyebrows.

So yeah, the ‘disappointment’ talk was always nonsense. But the excitement about what comes next? That’s 100% justified. The Bears didn’t just bet on Caleb, they remodeled the entire franchise around him. Now we get to watch what happens when a generational talent finally gets the keys to an offense built for him.