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Trey Koziol talks young Bears players emerging and next-man-up mentality
The Bears will look anywhere for key contributors, and have found some in camp and beyond. Bears Sr. Director of Player Personnel Trey Koziol joins Devan to talk Bears personnel in camp and more.
Chicago Bears' head coach Ben Johnson announced a surprise before the game on Saturday: Caleb Williams would be playing.
"He's prepared to play as long as he needs to for our offense," Johnson said on ESPN 1000's pregame broadcast.
One series was all he needed. He was lifted after one possession in favor of Case Keenum.
Here's what we saw from the Bears' quarterback in his only series with the first-team offense on Saturday.
Caleb Williams vs. Cincinnati
Williams had eight official plays vs. the Bengals on Saturday night when you factor out Cairo Santos' 45-yard field goal.
No. 1: 1st & 10:
A simple hand off.
Roschon Johnson takes the ball six yards to set up a solid second-down situation.
No. 2: 2nd & 4:
This is where the Bears' offensive playmakers shine.
Williams hits third-year wide receiver Rome Odunze for an 18-yard gain. Williams took the snap, went on a roll-out and turned his body just enough to flip a pass to Odunze.
Odunze took the ball 18 yards for a first down. It was a good play.
No. 3: 1st & 10:
This is where Williams' had a play that didn't count.
Williams tossed a pass to Roschon Johnson, but the Bengals were called for illegal contact. That's an automatic first down.
It was a good decision by Williams. He hit the player for an easy gain that would have set up a shorter second-down situation instead of trying to do too much,
No. 4: 1st & 10:
The Bears called a simple running play for Johnson.
It gained four yards.
No. 5: 2nd & 6:
Williams saw he had tight end Colston Loveland open right away, and slung an out-route to one of his favorite targets.
Loveland caught it, shook a defender for a few yards and gained a first down.
It's the kind of quick processing that Williams needs to show if he wants to move the offense more consistently this season. That was a great example.
No. 6: 1st & 20:
This is where it gets off-schedule. Johnson had a 10-yard carry that was called back by a holding foul on Braxton Jones.
On first and 20, Williams just missed Loveland on a pass that Williams should have made. It was just out of reach and it would have been touchdown.
No. 7: 2nd & 20:
Williams misses Loveland again, this time on a short pass to the right.
No. 8: 3rd &; 20:
Williams went to Odunze, but the two weren't on the same page.
Odunze might have been grabbed early before his break on his route, but it wasn't called by the official. This led to the Santos field goal.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 2: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the NFL 2025 game between Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Dig deeper:
The Bears' first-team offense scored on its first drive of the preseason. That was the final outcome on the stat sheet.
But, pulling the covers back on the drive shows three things.
First, Williams' processing is heightened. We've seen this all camp, but it was solidified in a live-game setting against the Bengals' defense. He went to his check down multiple times. That might not make the highlight tape, but it moved the ball into Bengals' territory.
Second, Williams' ability to make plays is still documented. His ability to shift his body and make the pass to Odunze is impressive. The off-platform throws are fun to watch. The ability to make a platform and complete a layup was more impressive here.
Finally, Williams should have made that throw to Loveland. It wasn't a layup throw by any means, but it's one that he probably wants back.
However, that throw would have been easier had Jones not been flagged for holding.
In all, what we saw on Saturday mirrored a lot of what we saw from Williams in training camp so far and what the Bears have asked from Williams.