Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had quite the scare during the team's 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, injuring his left ankle on a rough late-game play. Fortunately, Williams seems to have dodged a serious injury, but the incident was enough to leave fans and coaches holding their breath. The rookie QB’s exit on a noticeable limp added to an already disappointing day for Chicago’s offense, but he stayed upbeat post-game, easing concerns with a reassuring “I’m OK” to reporters.
The injury occurred as Williams took a hit on the game’s final play, a 6-yard completion to Keenan Allen. Arizona's defensive front bore down on him, and in a risky tackle, Williams’s ankle was twisted in what’s often referred to as a "gator roll." He explained, "I landed wrong and just kind of tweaked it. On the last play, the dude grabbed my ankle and gator rolled." For anyone unfamiliar, that move is notoriously tough on the joints as it can cause all sorts of strain and sprain risks. Recognizing the danger, Williams quickly attempted to roll with the tackle, letting his body follow the motion to minimize potential damage. "I tried to get off of it because when you stay on it, that's when bad stuff starts to happen... Tried to just let my body go so I could fall and roll with him," he added.
Head coach Matt Eberflus downplayed the incident in his post-game remarks, saying, "He limped off there a little bit, but when he came in, he looked to be fine. We'll check him in the morning." Both the team and fans are hopeful it was just a mild tweak that won’t keep Williams sidelined. Eberflus’s calm response echoed Williams's own assessment, but there’s no denying the collective concern for a rookie quarterback expected to be a key asset for the franchise.
Interesting Choices in a Blowout Game: One thing that puzzled many observers was why Williams was still in the game at that point. With a solid 20-point deficit and only 2:15 left on the clock, the game’s outcome seemed all but decided. However, Chicago continued to call passing plays, running four passes out of their last five plays. When asked about this strategy, Eberflus clarified that the team wanted to “get some work and timing on the two-minute operation” for the offense. In his view, the late-game reps were valuable practice, despite the apparent risks.
In a sport as physically intense as football, playing under such conditions can be a risky decision. Williams himself shared a thoughtful yet accepting take on this call: "You fight to the end of the game if you're in the game," he said. "If not, the coach makes a decision like that. You have to deal with it and figure out the next steps. But yeah, not my decision." Williams’s comments underscored his team-first mindset, showing he’s not about to point fingers or question his coach's strategy on a public platform.
A Frustrating Day for Chicago's Offense This game highlighted deeper struggles for Chicago, as it marked the first time in eight games they failed to score a touchdown. Williams put in an admirable effort, completing 22 of 41 pass attempts for 217 yards, and crucially, with no turnovers, yet the Bears’ offense couldn't find the end zone. His performance yielded a 68.9 passer rating – not ideal, but solid given the circumstances and pressure he was under from Arizona’s defense.
Coach Eberflus took full ownership of the offensive struggles, acknowledging that Chicago’s lack of scoring falls directly on his shoulders. In his words, "[I take] full responsibility for that." He noted the importance of dissecting the game tape to uncover solutions and emphasized that he, along with the offensive coaching staff, would get to work immediately on making necessary changes.
Key Focus Areas for Improvement Eberflus shared some insight into his game plan for turning things around offensively. First on the agenda is establishing a reliable ground game. "Find answers for running the ball, first. Making sure you do that and setting everything off of that," Eberflus said. Establishing the run, especially with a young quarterback like Williams, can open up passing options and keep defenses on their toes. But that’s only the beginning.
Additionally, Eberflus pointed to the importance of a clean pocket for Williams, emphasizing that with consistent protection, he believes the rookie has the potential to be highly effective. "When you protect your quarterback – and our quarterback's a good quarterback – he can get the ball down the field and do a good job there." Clear protection lanes and reliable blocking schemes are crucial, especially for a rookie still adjusting to the pro level's speed and physicality.
What’s Next for Caleb Williams? As far as Williams’s recovery goes, fans will be holding their breath a bit longer. With no confirmation yet on the extent of his injury, all eyes will be on Chicago's medical updates to see if Williams can jump back into the lineup quickly. His demeanor after the game hinted that he expects to bounce back soon, but until official clearance is given, it’s understandable if supporters feel cautious.
Ultimately, the young quarterback’s grit and poise shone through even after a tough day on the field. Though Sunday’s game ended on a limp, Williams’s resilience left fans hopeful for his future, knowing that he’s prepared to take whatever comes his way. For now, Bears fans can look forward to seeing how Williams and the offense regroup, with both the short-term focus on his recovery and the long-term goal of finding that elusive offensive rhythm.
Login