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Chicago Bears No. 1 draft pick of 2024, Caleb Williams, is being touted as the future superstar. In July 2024, NFL insider Tom Pelissero claimed the QB is the next big thing in Chicago after Michael Jordan. With solid faith in their athlete, the franchise announced him as their starting QB even before his first practice. If nothing else, such comparisons and responsibilities put pressure on the rookie.

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3-time Super Bowl champion LB Tedy Bruschi pointed it out on ESPN’s Get Up show. While drawing comparisons between Williams and Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud, who had a stellar rookie season, Bruschi said, “He (Williams) has high expectations of himself. I truly believe that season last year by CJ Strouds was an anomaly.” While admitting he wants to see the rookie in action, the LB raised doubts about the Bears’ will to compete. He said, “Competency is one thing that fans would want. And if it takes off, maybe, but. I think he’s gonna be an exciting player.

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But why was Stroud an anomaly? The Texans QB was on fire in his rookie year in the NFL. He ended the season with 273.9 passing yards per game and a 4.6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, the best stats in the season. A rookie rarely tops the league in such vital stats. As if that was not enough, he led the team into playoffs and they also won the AFC South. With such triumphs, comparisons are natural.

Williams is coming off of a great college season at USC. He did 3,333 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2023. But the question of the hour is how he will perform in his rookie NFL year? Well, if the training camp is anything to go by, the rookie QB might be having a good season.

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Caleb Williams impresses teammate and OC during training camp

The QB was brilliant during practice. Williams made 2 accurate passes in the end zone for the touchdowns, creating perfect plays. Amazed by it, LB Jack Sanborn couldn’t stop himself from giving a high-five to the rookie. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron liked his positive mindset and determination, rating him a strong contender with a solid chance of becoming great.

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However, the defense also frustrated him. Though DE Montez Sweat isn’t allowed to touch the rookie, he took the ball out of QB’s hands. Several reserve players also stopped many plays. He also struggled to finish the plays in the stipulated time. And the rookie is not happy with himself for these mistakes. Admitting that the toughest part is meeting the expectations, Williams said, “Obviously there’s going to be challenging times. It’s more or less just myself. When I go out on the field, I expect myself to not mess up. It’s just how I am.” The QB is exuding confidence and is prepared for the upcoming season.

‘Da Eber Floozies’ trust Caleb Williams to turn the season to their side. But that would only be possible if the entire team complements the rookie signal-caller on the gridiron.

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Written by

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Amit Kumar Jha

2,392 Articles

Amit Kumar Jha is a Senior Features Writer at EssentiallySports, specializing in NFL Rookie Watch coverage. He closely follows the journey of draft picks into the professional league and is known for his insightful stories, including a recent piece on Brett Favre’s controversial Parkinson’s treatment that earned praise from the Hall of Famer himself. Over the last two years, Amit has also been a key contributor to the Live News Center and serves as an important insider for EssentiallySports’ NFL coverage.

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Garima Yadav

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