Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears will play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. While the Bears are seeking to break the 0-2 season start, the Cowboys sought to continue their momentum following a dramatic first win of the season.

Williams, the Bears QB, had potential but also came to the field with his head on the chopping block because of lackluster performances. On FOX NFL Sunday, Drew Brees analyzed Caleb Williams’ game and pointed out some weaknesses in his performance.

“Most of these guys come from college, they have been shotgun exclusively, and all of a sudden they get into an NFL offence where they need a little more variety. They need to go center. It helps the run game. It also helps the play action. But if they’re not used to turning their back into the defense,” he said.

Brees added: “That’s an uncomfortable thing, and it just takes some time to get used to it and he’s used to having to score 50 points a game at USC because they didn’t have a defense so run around and make because that’s what he’s required to do in this offence. Just execute the offence, take the completion right, the big place will be there when you just take completions when you run the ball effectively. But you can’t force it.”

Drew Brees pointed out that Caleb Williams holds the ball too long in the pocket, leading to avoidable sacks. He urged Williams to complement the offense by leading from the front, running more, and carving out lanes—something he showcased in college.

Brees highlighted Williams’ USC days, including his 503-yard explosion against UCLA in 2022.

Cam Newton, meanwhile, raised a different concern on his podcast, questioning Williams’ commitment to winning. He argued the rookie is letting off-field distractions pull focus from his game. Like media chatter and even debates over his painted nails. That criticism has lingered since Chicago named him QB1, and Newton believes it’s still a red flag.

Caleb Williams in the 2025 season so far

Caleb Williams had a bittersweet 2024 season as a rookie. Though he completed 62.4% of his passes for 3,958 yards with 23 touchdowns and only 6 INTs. But the Bears finished the season with a 5-12 record.

He began the Ben Johnson Era with a 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Though after the defeat, the Bears’ defense came under heavy scrutiny, it was Williams and the offense that also raised concerns.

The second-year quarterback threw 21 completions on 35 attempts for 210 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 58 yards and scored another touchdown. The Vikes’ D was able to sack him twice.

But he worked upon that shortcoming… Or is slowing doing so. Against the Lions, his numbers also improved. His passer rating went up from 86.6 to 91.9, his completion rate from 60% to 63.3%, and his yards per throw from 6.0 to 6.9 compared to the opener against the Vikings. Now, Caleb must build on that. If he does that, the team will ooze confidence through him.