New head coach Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears are still carefully managing and evaluating various pieces as they work toward building the perfect roster. Despite their ongoing efforts, there remains one crucial element missing on their offensive side—a key piece that could make all the difference in their overall success. Recognizing this gap, the head coach is determined to make strategic changes, specifically aimed at optimizing Caleb Williams’ performance and unlocking his full potential. Johnson believes that with the right adjustments, Williams can become the dynamic leader the Bears need to elevate their offense to the next level. 

While the team currently has Roschon Johnson on their roster, they might not feel confident about a strong future with him as their lead back. Mostly because Johnson has repeatedly shown a lack of timing and awareness of where he is on the field. In addition, last year’s concussion might have instilled doubt in the team. As a result, head coach Johnson may be looking to add a proven, reliable weapon to the offensive arsenal to better support and complement Caleb Williams. Who is it?

Well, Jeremy Fowler has reportedly theorized that there’s a certain free agent who can find himself at the PNC Center at Halas Hall.

While the NFL insider didn’t confirm whether it’s a done deal, he said as per reports, “I know he expects to play, wants to play. The running back market is tough. A lot of these guys are waiting. I think they’re going to wait probably until training camp at this point. It doesn’t help them to sign in late May or early June. I do not expect Chubb back with the Browns barring some sort of surprise or some injury. There are some teams that could be in the market for one. The Commanders or the Bears come to mind just in general terms that could be looking for a back at some point or could use some help.”

Notably, Fowler’s statements come less than a month after Ken Carman of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland had provided a more concrete detail: “The Bears are very serious about bringing him in and are trying to make this push to bring him in.” But, truth be told, this is just one of several possibilities. In fact, the Washington Commanders and the Las Vegas Raiders are also reportedly interested in bringing Nick Chubb on board, either as their starter or a valuable backup. In the Raiders’ case specifically, the franchise is said to be looking to add an experienced running back to complement Ashton Jeanty, strengthening their depth and versatility at the position.

Having said that, if you look at his stats, Chubb has played 85 games through seven seasons, totaling 1,340 rushing attempts. Specifically, 2o22 served him his career-highs with 302 rushing attempts for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns. Though he also landed 12 TDs in his third year in the NFL, the 2022-23 season made him look like a beast. Perhaps that’s exactly why Ben Johnson might be so keen for his services. 

But before the team could add a top weapon for their franchise quarterback, there’s already a bit of drama brewing around Caleb Williams. Some of his teammates are getting irritated by one of his strange habits. Wondering what’s causing the tension? Let’s try to learn more about it.

Caleb Williams’ Achilles heel revealed 

NFL insider Albert Breer revealed this interesting angle during his appearance on Bill Simmons’ podcast earlier this week. He went into detail about a specific habit of Caleb Williams, that has been frustrating his teammates and coaching staff to no end. It has been causing frustration among both his teammates and the coaching staff. According to Albert, this particular behavior has become a noticeable issue in the locker room. And on the practice field, raising questions about how it might affect team chemistry and Williams’ overall development moving forward.

The national reporter said, “Basically, the point they were trying to make to him was, last year was a tough year. We understand your offensive coordinator got fired. Then your head coach gets fired. Your offensive line wasn’t very good.” He also added, “We get it, but if you’re lying on the ground for an extended period of time, and not picking yourself up off the ground. That’s going to resonate with the rest of the team… You need to be popping up off the ground after hits.” And if you see his statistics of getting hit, he was sacked 68 times in a single year. This is a franchise record for getting hit, and the third-most in NFL history.

But the real problem, as Breer pointed out, is that he doesn’t immediately bounce back up after being sacked by defenders, a trait that raises concerns about his resilience and physical durability at the professional level. However, if you take a closer look at his college stats, the picture is quite different. During his three years playing NCAA football, he consistently demonstrated solid pocket awareness and mobility, managing to avoid excessive pressure. In fact, over his entire college career, he never surpassed the 33-sack mark. It speaks to his ability to stay upright and make quick decisions under pressure. This contrast between his college performance and what we’re seeing now has become a key talking point among analysts.

But according to reports, Ben Johnson and the coaching staff are working to address this. Let’s see how the upcoming season unfolds for the 2024 first overall pick.