Caleb Williams addresses concerns with accuracy and timing through 8 games

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams has had an up-and-down rookie campaign in 2024. He’s been equal parts dazzling and frustrating, with the latter occurring when the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is uncorking a deep ball. His downfield throws have been borderline ugly, and he knows it.

“It’s frustrating, because I’ve worked hard over the years … of accuracy being the most important thing,” Williams said Wednesday. “I still pride myself on that. Not being accurate, not being on time with things is frustrating.”

Williams has especially struggled to connect with DJ Moore, the Bears’ alpha receiver who enjoyed a career-best season in 2023. Moore finished last year with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight scores. Through eight games this season, he’s on pace for 79 catches for 795 yards and six touchdowns.

“It’s not in a place where we would like it,” Williams said. “Both of us, it’s frustrating. You’ve got a guy so special and not being able to connect and hit on certain passes is frustrating for myself and frustrating for him.”

READ: Bears may be without Andrew Billings for rest of 2024 season

Williams is experiencing first-hand the “what have you done for me lately” nature of the NFL. After throwing for more than 300 yards in two games between Weeks 3 and 5 and nine touchdowns in a four-game stretch, his underwhelming performances the last two weeks have the media’s junkyard dogs attacking. It’s to be expected, of course, a quarterback who’s the first overall pick will always have sky-high expectations. But let’s pump the brakes on the level of concern some in the Chicago media are expressing about Williams.

“We’re going to get there,” Williams said of the Bears’ offense. “I’m going to get there. I think it starts with me and boils down from there.”

Caleb Williams is on pace to throw for 3,538 yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs this season. It’s a stat line that won’t win many fantasy football championships. Still, it’d represent a promising first year in the NFL, considering he’s surrounded by an offensive coaching staff that’s downright… offensive.