Spencer Rattler shares thoughts on 2021 Oklahoma benching for Caleb Williams before Saints-Bears clash

Reunion with Caleb Williams offers Spencer Rattler opportunity to prove self against 2024 draft peer

Rattler and Williams spent the 2021 season as teammates at Oklahoma. Rattler, who led the Big 12 in completion percentage (67.5 percent), passing yards (3,031) and passing touchdowns (28) as a freshman in 2020, started five games as a sophomore before ceding the role to Williams, who would go on to win the Heisman the following season with USC and be selected No. 1 overall in Rattler's draft class.

While their careers diverged significantly after their one season together, they'll intersect once more when the Saints (1-5) play at the Bears (3-2) in Week 7. The game will be a crucial litmus test for Rattler, seeing how he stacks up against his peer.

Both he and Williams have largely played mistake-free football this season. After taking a 10.8 percent sack rate as a rookie, Williams only has a 5.9 percent sack rate this season while throwing nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Rattler has six touchdowns and one interception in 203 pass attempts. He's also sliced his sack rate from 8.8 percent in 2024 to 5.1 percent this season.

When he lost his job at Oklahoma to Williams, few likely thought that the two would one day face off as NFL starters. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, Sunday's meeting could be the first of many.