The Chicago Bears’ early journey with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been a mixed bag this season.
The team sits in the basement of the NFC North with a mediocre 4-4 record and are currently on a two-game losing skid that has cast a shadow over the season.
Though the Bears have flashed glimpses of strong promise, inconsistency has plagued them, and Williams himself points to one critical area in need of improvement: his on-field connection with star receiver DJ Moore.
Williams addressed these concerns openly and admitted there’s a noticeable gap in the chemistry between he and Moore.
“Obviously, it’s not in a place – from the past games – where we would like it. Both of us,” Williams said. “It’s frustrating because you’ve got a guy that’s so special, and not being able to connect and hit on certain passes is frustrating for myself.
“And I know it’s frustrating for him because, as a wide receiver, especially, you only get but so many chances, so many times the ball comes your way in a game and things like that.”
The rookie quarterback pointed out that as a receiver, Moore faces limited opportunities each game to make an impact.
Moore’s production has indeed taken a hit in 2024.
Through eight games, he’s recorded 37 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns – a pace far below his 1,364-yard, eight-touchdown performance last season.
Despite the challenges, Moore has yet to pinpoint a specific reason for their struggles.
“I couldn’t tell you,” he said. “I mean, just reps? You can say Justin had more reps when I got here than me and Caleb have, just him being a rookie quarterback and Justin wasn’t a rookie quarterback last year.”
Beyond on-field struggles, there are hints of broader tension within the team.
During a recent appearance on Chicago’s 670 The Score, Moore gave a cautious response when asked if head coach Matt Eberflus had lost the locker room.
“I want to say no,” Moore said. “The message yesterday was that we know we’re 4-4 now. It’s just like being 0-0. But you’ve just got to go out there and start stacking wins like we did. And that’s the best thing you can do is win and let the chips fall how they fall after they do so.”
Moore also noted that the offense needs to “go back to the drawing board,” a telling statement about his views on the team’s progress.
For a squad led by a rookie quarterback, reworking their strategy may be a tall order at this point in the season.
It’s important to keep everything in perspective. Every single rookie quarterback goes through growing pains. (C.J. Stroud just happens to be going through his growing pains in his second year.)
Also, there’s not a soul alive who thought the Bears would resemble a legitimate Super Bowl contender at any point this season.
2024 is about developing Williams and making real, genuine progress on the field. They can still accomplish all of that as we enter the second half of the season.
Having said that, the clear disconnect between Williams and Moore is a little concerning.
Moore walking off the field in the middle of a live play wasn’t exactly the best of looks no matter what excuse Chicago tries to come up with.
It will be interesting to keep a close eye on the Williams-Moore relationship going forward.
What are your thoughts on the drama in Chicago? … Should Bears fans be worried???