Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took a heavy beating in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, raising serious concerns about the rookie’s durability early in his NFL career. On September 15, the Texans delivered 11 hits and 7 sacks to Williams, not including the additional blows he absorbed while rushing the football. In Week 1, the Tennessee Titans added 4 more hits and 2 sacks.
SB Nation’s Justis Mosqueda criticized the situation on X, emphasizing that Williams is being subjected to excessive punishment: “The Bears need to address this before they risk breaking him.”
While the offensive line remains a significant issue with limited immediate solutions, Williams’ decision-making also needs to improve to protect himself more effectively. Both problems are likely to take time to resolve. The Bears should evaluate their quarterback depth chart, which currently includes 2023 undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent as the backup and 2024 undrafted free agent Austin Reed on the practice squad.
Chicago might want to consider adding a veteran quarterback to their roster, especially if Williams faces further injuries. Trevor Siemian, a former Bears backup, could be a sensible option. Siemian, a six-year NFL veteran, has started 33 of 39 games throughout his career and had a brief stint with Chicago in 2022.
Siemian’s experience, including 7,751 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, makes him a strong candidate. In contrast, Bagent has shown promise as a backup with a 2-2 record in four starts, while Reed has yet to see regular-season action.
If Williams misses any time, the Bears could face a challenging quarterback situation, with Reed potentially stepping into a crucial role. Although most teams don’t carry four quarterbacks, adding a veteran like Siemian could provide valuable depth and competition, either as a fourth QB on the roster or as an alternative to Reed on the practice squad.