The Chicago Bears resumed practice Wednesday as they prepare to host the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field in the season opener.
Here are three things we learned from coach Matt Eberflus, quarterback Caleb Williams and others as they get ready for Sunday.
1. Caleb Williams said “constant communication” will help when he inevitably faces adversity.
Williams and his coaches have put thought into how he will weather the highs and lows that might come with his rookie season — and they have prepared for it.
Eberflus said Bears coaches have worked with players on how they will handle adversity when it arises, rather than leaving their reaction to the moment.
“When you react to something, a lot of times it’s not your best person that you want to be,” Eberflus said. “Knowing that there’s going to be adversity in the game, you can set your response up and understand, ‘This is how I’m going to respond to this — with a can-do attitude and moving on to the next play and bringing my teammates along.’ Rather than the other way, when you react and you do things that you don’t want to do.”
Williams believes when things go wrong it’s often because of “a slip” in communication or information, so the Bears have been in constant communication and information-gathering mode.
He has taken seriously the mental training to prepare for adversity.
“Understanding that the situation I’m in, bad things are going to happen every once in a while,” Williams said. “You’re going to throw a pick, you’re going to fumble, whether it’s me, whether it’s the team. We’re going to jump offside. We’re going to do a bunch of things.
“When those moments of adversity strike, it’s more about encouraging, it’s more about understanding that we can get out of this situation and not bringing more negativity to the situation that comes up.”
2. Wide receiver Keenan Allen said Williams’ confidence sets him apart from other rookies.
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Williams made headlines last month when HBO’s “Hard Knocks” showed him telling quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph that he doesn’t get nervous.
Allen, who came to the Bears via trade after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, said such confidence is unique for a first-year starter.
“He’s always been the guy,” Allen said. “When we first had (Justin) Herbert (in L.A.), he wasn’t really a starter going into Week 1, so that’s a difference. (Williams) has always been the guy, so he has always had the expectation of playing at that level that we play at. He’s ready for it. He’s up for the task. His confidence is good.”
Allen said his expectation is “winning” even with a rookie at quarterback.
“I wouldn’t rather be with another guy right now than Caleb,” Allen said. “He’s gotten better ever since we started. The confidence is through the roof.”
3. Allen was among six players who were limited in the first injury report of the season.
Allen is dealing with a heel issue, and he said he’s taking it “day by day.” The injury kept him out of practice last week. A heel injury also ended Allen’s season with the Chargers last year.
Defensive end Montez Sweat (toe), running back Roschon Johnson (toe), defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin), center/guard Ryan Bates (shoulder) and offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (quadriceps) also were limited.
Eberflus said this team has been “much healthier throughout the course of training camp” than last year’s team, and he’s hopeful that’s one factor that will help the Bears get off on a better foot than when they started the 2023 season 0-4.
“Last year, we dealt with a bunch of injuries, a bunch of guys out at certain key spots, so I think that hurt the continuity of the group,” Eberflus said. “I know we lost a couple guys to injury early on in the season as well.
“(This year there’s) more continuity, better competition because the roster’s better. I think that’s really helped us in the skill positions, at the line position, the quarterback, all positions.”
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