Former QB May Have Been Right About Caleb Williams-Ben Johnson Partnership

Watching the Chicago Bears' loss on Sunday in Baltimore was discouraging, mainly because it felt so familiar. It was a game where they needed their quarterback to step up, as the run game and defense were struggling. Caleb Williams had opportunities. It's not like he was under siege by the Ravens' pass rush. Yet he still only completed 65% of his passes with no touchdowns and a backbreaking 4th quarter interception. What was most alarming about it was how disjointed he again looked in the offense, reverting too often to his old tendencies of holding the ball and looking for big plays.

It was frustrating to watch him not play with more patience. He wasn't taking what the defense gave him enough, and it was costing them points. This brought back something mentioned by quarterback trainer Tim Jenkins a few months ago. He stated on Hoge & Jahns that he had concerns about whether Williams and Johnson would mesh well in terms of their personalities. There were similar vibes with Sean Payton and Russell Wilson in Denver. On paper, it should've worked, but Wilson's playing style and demeanor didn't fit Payton's desired way of offense.

As we all know, that relationship fell apart. If Williams doesn't get with the program, the same fate may await him with Johnson.

Caleb Williams is not holding up his end of the bargain.

Johnson said from the outset, one of his goals for 2025 was for the quarterback to target a 70% completion percentage. The best quarterbacks in the NFL generally hover around that number. Caleb Williams finished at 62.5% last season. Before the Ravens game, he was at 61.1%. That speaks to a quarterback who struggles with efficiency. He doesn't always throw accurate passes or make the right decisions. This is why the Bears' offense often struggles to find any rhythm.

Now it is unlikely Johnson has made any decision on Williams' future. The Bears have played seven games and are 4-3. The young quarterback is responsible in many ways for that. Patience is required. Johnson understands he must let things play out. There are ten games left. A lot can happen in that time. The key is continuing to work with Williams, refining his approach, and pushing for greater efficiency. With time, things should start ironing out. The question is whether Johnson's patience runs out before that.