We are through two weeks of the 2025 season and things don't appear to be getting any better for quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
The Bears' season got off to a hot start after Williams and Co. scored on the very first series of the 2025 campaign. However, things have been all downhill from there and Williams has been wildly inconsistent.
That is not a good sign for a Bears team that was hoping new head coach Ben Johnson would be able to unlock the 2024 No. 1 overall pick.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently weighed in on the situation with Williams and the Bears and is not ruling out Chicago benching the second-year signal-caller for his backup, Tyson Bagent, at some point.
Interestingly, Fowler adds that the Bears thought the offense "was a bit crisper" with Bagent under center during training camp.
What if the Bears' Caleb Williams doesn't find his footing in Ben Johnson's timing-and-rhythm passing game by, say, Week 10? I think Williams showed positive signs in Sunday's loss in Detroit. But the feeling coming out of camp was that, despite Williams' otherworldly talent, the offense was a bit crisper with Tyson Bagent running the huddle. Is Johnson willing to be patient here? I think so. And Williams' immense talent is a commodity worth betting on. But these coaches feel pressure to win -- three-year grace periods no longer exist -- and Johnson didn't draft Williams. Just thinking out loud.
Benching Williams in his second season in the NFL would be an utter disaster for the Bears, although it wouldn't be entirely surprising considering the dysfunction the franchise has seen over the years.
Adding to that, Fowler rightly points out that Johnson didn't draft Williams, so he may not be as married to the USC product as he otherwise would be.
That said, general manager Ryan Poles did draft Williams, so that could create an interesting situation if Johnson decides he wants to go in a different direction.
Unless the Bears believe Bagent can be the difference between making the playoffs or not later in the season, chances are Chicago is just going to stick with Williams through the 2025 campaign.
But if Williams doesn't show massive improvement between now and the rest of the season, his job will very much be in jeopardy in 2026.
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