Caleb Williams' sharp preseason debut caps best stretch of Bears camp - ESPN

CHICAGO — After the Bears were one of three teams to not score a touchdown on their opening offensive possession in 2024, quarterback Caleb Williams led the first-team offense on a seven-play opening drive Sunday night that went 92 yards for a TD and served as a statement about the identity Chicago is trying to create.

«I think it sets a tone for us as a team,» Williams, playing his first game of the preseason, said after the Bears' 38-0 demolition of a Buffalo Bills team that sat most of its starters. «I think it sets a tone for how we expect ourselves to play, go out there, perform. So yeah, it was extremely important.»

The Bears started with the ball after the Bills won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. After a mishap by wide receiver Tyler Scott while returning the opening kickoff put the Bears at their own 8-yard line, Williams operated a near four-minute drive that culminated with him finding wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

The former No. 1 pick took the field for the first time in the preseason Sunday after he and most of the starters sat out last week's 24-24 tie with the Miami Dolphins. Williams delivered first-down throws to tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, leaned on his established rapport with wide receiver DJ Moore, and demonstrated his budding chemistry with Zaccheaus on a drive in which he connected with all four pass-catchers.

In 13 snaps that spanned two drives, Williams was 6-for-10 for 107 yards, a touchdown and a 103.6 passer rating. His preseason debut under coach Ben Johnson comes after his best stretch of training camp, which included a joint practice with the Bills on Friday.

«He's really been locked in,» Johnson said. «Anytime you're a young