Caleb Williams embraces opportunity for extra reps at Bears last voluntary OTAs

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WGN) — The last portion of voluntary OTAs is usually reserved for rookies and fringe players trying to make the 53-man roster, but Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is using it as an opportunity to get more reps learning Ben Johnson’s playbook.

“[Caleb]’s committed to learning the offense. We’re not where we need to be yet, as a team, and he understands that,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Any chance he gets to get a few more full-speed reps, it sounds like he wants them.”

Johnson and the Bears’ new-look coaching staff have heaped plenty on their young, talented quarterback’s plate. Everything from “long play calls, multiple plays at the line” and “tempo” has been placed on the learning table for Williams, and Tuesday was no different.

OTA action this time around emphasized “different types of throws—front pylon, back pylon, front line, high back five on the back line throws,” according to Johnson.

“There are some [throws] that you’re working in a team setting, or seven-on-seven setting, and you’re just trying to find an open receiver and fit it in,” Johnson said. “But then, when [receivers are] in routes versus air, you can really hone in on the detail of where you want to put that ball … We’ve had, I want to say, that was our third, third or fourth red zone experience here over the last few weeks. That’s always the one I think takes the longest, as an offense, to get really good at—the red zone passing game.

“We’ve dabbled here, there and everywhere, really, throughout the springtime. Some comes a little bit more natural than others for him, but I do think we’ve seen him get better in really all facets.”

Along with taking gradual steps toward learning Johnson’s playbook, Chicago’s new head coach said Williams continues to have the moments of brilliance that helped lure him away from the Detroit Lions to take over at Halas Hall.

“There’s always a throw or two, every single day. The movement stuff, outside of the pocket, it’s what we thought coming into town here was [his] ability to create,” Johnson said. “Sometimes you get wrapped up … being in a perfect play all the time for the perfect coverage … and really, with him, it doesn’t matter so much what the play call is.

“If it’s the perfect play … then it’s great.  It’s there and if it’s not, then he’s able to find a way to make it work. I think there’s a little bit of that that’s going on right now and figuring that out, but he’s done a great job so far. He’s digesting, he’s working hard. There are still some hiccups out there, when you’re watching it, some turnovers or needs the play one more time, and that’s part of the growing process.”

A large part of that growing process will be centered around a topic that was well hashed during Williams’ rookie season—his average time to throw (TTT) and hitting receivers in rhythm.

Williams struggled to play on time and hit receivers consistently in tight windows last year, whether it be over the middle or deep downfield.

According to Pro Football Focus, Williams had the fourth-slowest overall TTT (3.08 seconds), trailing only Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold, but he had the longest TTT on scrambles (6.01 seconds) in the NFL.

With weapons like D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III set to be a part of the Bears’ receiving corps in 2025, Johnson believes that when they execute their routes and beat man coverage, they will allow Williams to play on time. Then when his best options are covered, that’ll be when Williams is encouraged to give defenses the ole razzle-dazzle.

“I think he’s going to play on time when the receivers present themselves that way,” Johnson said. “If they’re not there, if number one or number two is not there, I think he has the ability to make it right for us.”