Multiple Chicago Bears gamers insisted all through the summer season that considerations associated to the alleged “Hollywood” personality of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams have been downright foolish.
For a prolonged piece produced by The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns that was revealed on Friday, Williams’ teammates praised the 22-year-old’s maturity and management qualities forward of Chicago’s Week 1 sport versus the Tennessee Titans this Sunday.
“He acts like he’s been right here,” Bears defensive deal with Andrew Billings stated about Williams. “And that sounds loopy. Any rookie that acts like he’s been right here, you don’t prefer it. However when it’s the quarterback, it’s wanted. It actually is required. That’s what I watch. I watch how he’s in observe. If all the things doesn’t go nicely, like what does he do? Some guys are like, ‘Oh, man.’ Can they go to the following play? He goes to the following play very nicely.”
Williams entered March as the highest prospect on many draft boards due to his simple bodily skills and his on-the-field accomplishments. Nevertheless, some ranked signal-caller Jayden Daniels forward of Williams as a result of they believed that Daniels “loves soccer extra” and “has higher wiring” than the USC Trojans star, who final season cried in his mom’s arms in the stands following a loss and has painted his fingernails on occasion.
The Bears ignored such takes and fortunately made Williams the draft’s first alternative in April. Teammates equivalent to Chicago linebacker T.J. Edwards appear thrilled that Williams will lead the Bears into battle this Sunday as their QB1.
“I like when individuals are available, regardless of who they’re, rookies or a vet that signed, they usually’re actually themselves,” Edwards stated. “For somebody to come back in, particularly first-round choose, all that hype, I don’t know what that looks like — he simply got here in and has been himself. He’s a optimistic dude, which I actually like. … It’s straightforward to wish to are available and attempt to match this mould or narrative. He’s simply himself, and that’s the perfect half.”
As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Williams because the betting favourite at +135 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Yr Award this season. That same book had the Bears at -110 odds to make the playoffs.
Williams is seemingly doing nicely to dam out such hype forward of the Titans sport.
“He simply looks as if he’s a part of the fellows,” security Kevin Byard added about Williams. “…I feel he’s doing a superb job bonding with your complete group and never simply his offensive line or his working backs or receivers. He’s hanging with the defensive guys, we’re all hanging out behind the bus making jokes. You simply don’t usually see that from a rookie who simply bought right into a place the place he’s round a number of veteran guys, who’s round guys who’ve made a number of performs on this league.”
Williams hasn’t been shy about clapping back at critics for the reason that spring and can now look to have his play converse for itself starting with Sunday’s dwelling showdown with the Titans at Soldier Subject.