Damning stats prove DJ Moore was right about Justin Fields but there is hope for ‘rattled’ Bears rookie Caleb Williams
With Justin Fields leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 3-0 record, inevitable comparisons are being drawn with Chicago Bears first overall pick Caleb Williams.
The Bears decided to move on from Fields, who they selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, over the offseason.
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Having secured the No.1 pick this year as part of the trade that saw the Carolina Panthers land Bryce Young, Chicago went all in on Williams.
The 22-year-old arrived in the Windy City brimming with confidence - telling rookie punter Tory Taylor he would not be needed very often.
But through three games, the Bears are 1-2 and Williams, who was given advice by C.J. Stroud after a loss to the Houston Texans, has looked a long way from living up to his billing as the next Patrick Mahomes.
He has just two touchdowns against five turnovers and a 59.3% completion ratio.
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His QB rating of 26.5 is behind only benched Carolina Panthers passer and fellow No.1 pick Young and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns.
The Bears have also punted 15 times - placing them joint-sixth this season - three behind the league-leading Browns.
"The game is moving too fast right now for Caleb Williams," five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman posted on X during Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
"Even when he’s getting the time the defense is ahead of him. Easy reads for a DB when the QB is rattled."
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Speaking last year while Fields was still in Chicago, star Bears wideout DJ Moore backed the now Steelers passer.
“I don’t know, y’all ask me that what, last week?” Moore said after being quizzed about Fields' future in December.
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“I’m still like, bruh, where are y’all seeing this? What makes [Fields] not the quarterback for the Chicago Bears right now?
"What, there’s like two of them? [Williams and Drake Maye] I don’t think they better than Justin.”
And Moore, who has cut a frustrated figure at times despite throwing his support behind Williams in preseason, could have been right in 2023 judging by what we have seen so far.
Handed the chance to start by Russell Wilson's injury struggles, Fields has three total touchdowns, just one turnover, and a 73.3% completion ratio.
His QBR of 46.9 puts him 22nd in the league and his 95.3 passer rating also trumps Williams (65.3).
In Williams' defense, he has improved every week.
He threw for 363 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns against the Colts after adding a wristband to his arsenal to speed up his running of the offense.
The Bears threw the ball 52 times against one of the worst teams against the run in the NFL - highlighting potentially the biggest problem facing the franchise.
C.J. Stroud offers Caleb Williams heartfelt personal message after the Houston Texans beat the Chicago Bears in the NFL
Chicago also held the No.9 pick in this year's draft and opted to use it on Rome Odunze instead of an offensive linesman.
spoke to two executives who placed the blame for Williams' struggles firmly at the feet of the coaches.
"He is running for his life, just like he was at USC last year," said one.
"The Bears' problems, in my opinion, start with the offensive line and the construction of it," added another.
"Then it's [offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron, especially when you look at the other coordinators in the division.
"He is clearly fourth. The head coach is fourth. Right now, the quarterback is surviving on his own."
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Fields, meanwhile, has benefitted from a well-run Steelers organization and a far superior offensive line in his fourth year in the league.
And the 25-year-old lost out to Wilson, who the Denver Broncos were willing to eat $85million in dead cap money to get rid of, in the battle to start for Pittsburgh before the latter's injury.
Williams has shown flashes of the talent that saw him declared the best quarterback of the class of '24.
He will need time from fans and, more importantly, his O-line to show what he can do.
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Up next is a Los Angeles Rams defense minus Hall Of Fame-bound Aaron Donald, who gave up 41 points to the Arizona Cardinals.
It is not time to sound the alarm, but Williams would be wise to take on board what Stroud and other established stars have to say as he adjusts to life in the pros.
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