LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Before the Bears broke from their training camp late Monday, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams wanted to address his teammates with something on his mind. 

Williams requested that the Bears ensure they keep their quarters clean inside of Halas Hall in order to support the building custodial staff. The 22-year-old Williams took notice of loose laundry in the locker room and water bottles that were not being recycled. 

“He’s not going to wait for anybody to say what needs to be said,” said Bears fourth-year running back Khalil Herbert. “He’s going to step up, hit it on the nail, hit it on the head. Being able to do that as a rookie is great, and guys respect that.” 

Leadership is no accident for Williams, even just months into his NFL career. Ever since he was selected No. 1 overall to the Bears in late April, Williams has been empowered as part of the franchise’s plan for his rookie campaign.

In preparing to select Williams with the first overall pick of the draft, general manager Ryan Poles and his brass formed the detailed on-ramp to his first NFL season.  

The Bears named Williams as their starting quarterback before he ever stepped onto the practice field in navy and orange, electing not to seek out a veteran stopgap to lead opening this 2024 season. In doing so, they set him with every first-team snap from the start of OTAs through now into training camp. Williams was allowed into the Bears’ plans on offense during pre-draft meetings – weeks before he was even selected to Chicago. 

Williams’ quarterbacks room includes key sounding boards on the coaching staff in new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph and former NFL quarterback Ryan Griffin, a new assistant on staff. 

Two weeks since reporting for training camp, Williams is pleased with his growth to this point. 

“I’m on track to be ready,” Williams said. “Exactly where I need to be and where they want me to be. 

“I’m progressing, excited and ready to go.” 

Williams has faced plenty of challenges early in this training camp – some by design while others that are simply part of this process. He lines up each day against a defense that’s eager to test him in practice.  

The Bears set out to stop Williams – and they let him hear about it plenty. When safety Jaquan Brisker picked off a pass from Williams in coverage Tuesday, the defense erupted on its sideline. 

Williams has also struggled at times with pre-snap command at the line of scrimmage. It’s his responsibility to get his protection aligned and read through the defense before taking the snap. The Bears have endured penalties and procedural issues, though it’s all new for Williams at this stage. 

“I’m always tough about the mistakes,” Williams said. “That’s the part about me that drives everything. 

“I know it’s preparing me for those games late in the season, those preseason games coming up.” 

When the Bears put on their full pads last Saturday on the back fields of Halas Hall, the intensity of practice rose as it so often does this time of year. Teammates can begin hitting each other and the pace of work picks up. 

The exception to this rule is of course the quarterback, who will wear an orange jersey that marks he cannot be hit during drills. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the quarterback can’t push back.  

When veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Walker approached the Bears’ starting offense with harsh words, Williams approached him facemask-to-facemask and shoved right back. 

No matter what, Williams is ready to lead the Bears.  

“That’s my quarterback,” veteran center Ryan Bates said. “I love that. I love that mentality. 

“That’s who he is. He’s a chippy guy. He wants to get in there, he wants to compete.” 

Go, DJ 

The cost for a star wide receiver continues to rise in the NFL, a market inflated as premier players keep cashing in at the negotiating table. 

DJ Moore wasn’t willing to wait for his own security. He didn’t set out to reset the market and never became concerned over betting on himself. 

Moore simply was pleased with the circumstances of his NFL career, having found a home with the Bears and stability for this franchise. He enjoyed a breakthrough 2023 season, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight scores. Now, Chicago is a legitimate playoff contender with hopes of sustained success. 

Everything was in place for Moore, who late Tuesday signed a four-year, $110-million contract extension with the Bears.  

“The organization embraced me as soon as I got here, from the time I got traded until the time that ink got on that paper,” Moore said. “It’s been nothing but love.  

“Getting traded here probably was one of the best things.” 

Moore didn’t believe the Bears were best for him back in March of 2023 when he was traded by the Panthers. 

Moore had played the first five years of his career in Carolina and had just purchased a home in Charlotte. Moore felt that was where he was meant to be. 

But the Bears sought out Moore to be included in their blockbuster deal involving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Rather than accepting a first-round pick for 2025, Poles and Chicago’s brass pushed instead to include Moore. 

Moore was aware of the perception once made by former Bears and Panthers star Muhsin Muhammad, who said Chicago is where wide receivers go to die. He set out to change that. 

Moore enjoyed a strong first season with the Bears, who last season were still working through a rebuilding plan. Now, he sees stability with teammates like Williams, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift. 

“I hope that it’s always going to be that way,” Moore said. “And I’m going to keep going out there and putting my best foot forward. 

“Once we got here, there was no looking back. We’re here now for the long haul.” 

Another setback for Davis 

The Bears have not committed to their starting center for this season. In large part, that is due to their uncertainty at guard. 

Two weeks into training camp, the Bears are already utilizing their contingency plan for the offensive line. Nate Davis has been sidelined with an undisclosed strain, leaving a void to fill once again at right guard. 

Bates, who was competing to be the starting center, has moved over to right guard. That leaves Coleman Shelton, a 17-game starter for the Rams last season, as the man snapping to Williams. 

Playing the second season of a three-year, $30-million contract, Davis’ inability to stay healthy and play certainly isn’t a surprise now to the Bears. He missed six games last season and a significant portion of the offseason program. 

“Availability is everything in this league,” Eberflus said. 

The Bears are still committed to Davis as their starting right guard once he returns, and the injury is not considered to be serious. 

But the Bears seemed to plan out the prospect of Davis being absent when they brought in Bates, who has played all five positions on the offensive line. 

“I’ll be ready at all times to switch positions in a pinch,” Bates said. 

Saban’s visit 

Legendary coach Nick Saban visited with the Bears last Tuesday, just days into their training camp, accepting an invitation from Eberflus. 

Saban coached Eberflus at Toledo and has remained a close friend and mentor. The two visited for several hours.

“Our conversations were on leadership of the football team,” Eberflus said. “And really his process and his cadence and rhythm of working with a quarterback, with Tua (Tagovailoa), with Jalen (Hurts), and what was his experience during that time during the camp phase of it and also during the season. I gleaned a lot of information and a lot of wisdom from him, and it was great to see him.  

“He’s a special man and a special leader. It was fun to get to visit with him. We talked a little bit about family and of course we ended up spending about 30 minutes talking about coverages. That’s something we always do.” 

HOF Game plan 

The anticipated preseason debut for Williams will have to wait. 

The Bears will rest their starters on Thursday night at the Hall of Fame Game, including their quarterback Williams. It was a decision made in part due to the work thus far in training camp, plus one that will benefit players fighting for roster spots. 

“It’s a great opportunity really for the guys, the role players that we’re going to have on our team and the guys that are fringe roster players,” Eberflus said. “Those guys are going to be looked at by not only us but of course the whole league. So, I think that’s a really good opportunity for those guys.” 

Kickoff between the Bears and Texans comes at 7 p.m. CT from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.