ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler claims Chicago Bears are treating Caleb Williams ‘like a rookie right now’

Quarterback Caleb Williams is entering his second season in the NFL. That said, with the changes this offseason in Chicago, he’s apparently working like he’s again entering his first.

‘Get Up’ discussed Williams’ ongoing development with the Bears on Thursday morning. With that, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted how Chicago, now coached by Ben Johnson, has taken steps back with Williams to get back to the foundational parts of his game, with Fowler describing it almost as though he’s re-entering his rookie year with this new coaching staff.

“You mentioned deconstruction? That’s exactly right,” Fowler said. “Ben Johnson has been relentless on him with the details. They’re just trying to get him to do the basics right now and then they’ll work on, you know, the off-scripted plays, the mobility, all his strengths. That will come. Now, Chicago Bears elite quarterback play is an oxymoron. It’s always been that way. But, as far as the ability? They see it. Like, the players recognize it. They’ve just got to get it out of him…Ben Johnson is like – just, you know, how to take a three-step drop.

“You know, all the basics. Like, they are treating him like a rookie right now.”

Williams was fine for the most part in his play last season for Chicago after being the No. 1 pick. He posted a 62.5% completion rate for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Again, not bad, especially as far as this franchise’s quarterbacks go, but not at the expectation many had of the top overall pick of the draft coming in, namely with the Bears going 5-12 overall leading to the firings of Matt Eberflus and, with their handling of him on one of the worst offenses in the league, OC Shane Waldron.

Now, coached by Johnson and OC Declan Doyle, Williams has high expectations for himself again going into his second year. ESPN’s Damien Woody wants to see him live up to that now, both on and off the field for Chicago.

“The Bears have done a great job of kind of, building up things around Caleb Williams,” Woody said. “I think, when you look at Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams? There’s a deconstruction of sorts that needs to happen with Caleb Williams. We know he has the flair for the spectacular, but it’s the mundane things that wins in the National Football League when you’re playing the quarterback position and I think that’s what Ben Johnson is trying to get Caleb Williams to do and it’s going to take time.

“When you’re facing adversity and you’re on the road, fourth down, third-and-seven, we got to have it from you? I need to be able to look into your eyes and know that this guy’s got it, he’s got the goods. Because, ultimately, players are going to only follow you if they believe in you…Forget all the Xs and Os. We’re going to talk about that as these games progress. But is he a leader of men? That’s the thing that I want to see from Caleb Williams. And you know who we’re going to see it from? We’re going to see it from the players, the players surrounding Caleb Williams. We’re going to hear from them in the locker room when reporters are asking about him. That’s when we’re going to know, like, okay, this guy’s got the goods.”

Much is still expected of Williams with this already seen as a crucial season for him coming in. That re-working of his game will have to be worth it then, if a lot of the prior assumptions about him are going to happen in his career in the NFL.

“If you’re the number one pick? Boy, brother. You need to get this thing going,” Woody said. “If not, it’s going to be your downfall quick, fast, and in a hurry.”