Caleb Williams' Preseason Plan Detailed By Matt Eberflus; Bears Eye 45-55 Reps for QB

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus revealed the team's preseason plans for Caleb Williams ahead of his rookie campaign.

Eberflus mentioned the workload of 2023 first-round quarterbacks when discussing Chicago's preseason expectations for Williams.

"Haven't made any decisions but we certainly want to get him some reps," he said, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I know the guys last year got 45 to 55 reps in terms of those guys. We're looking right in that range."

The Bears used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Williams after his impressive junior season with USC.

Eberflus also highlighted the importance of getting the 22-year-old involved in practice, giving him a chance to go up against the Bears' starters on defense compared to potentially facing off against opponents' second-string units in the preseason.

"We'll take that week to week," Eberflus said. "But there's value in all the reps when you think about it because he's going to be going against the [No. 1] defense. In preseason games you don't get all the looks sometimes that you would get during practice. So I think there's equal value to going against the ones every single day and also getting some of those preseason reps as well."

Williams reportedly struggled with inconsistency during OTAs earlier in the offseason, specifically in the red zone period of practice. However, a subpar performance in May is hardly enough to make bold predictions regarding his regular-season outlook.

During his final year with the Trojans, Williams completed 68.6 percent of his throws for 3,633 yards while tossing 30 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. He ended his collegiate career with 93 touchdown passes and just 14 picks, winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy.

Williams is set to start practicing with the Bears once training camp begins on Saturday, then he'll take the field for the first time in preseason as Chicago faces off against the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff is on Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. ET.