By Sunday 
A Tough Day at Ford Field
Sunday was one of those games the Chicago Bears will want to forget quickly. The Detroit Lions ran away with a 52-21 victory at Ford Field, handing rookie QB Caleb Williams his first real NFL reality check.
With just under eight minutes left, head coach Ben Johnson pulled Williams and sent in backup Tyson Bagent to finish things off. For the No. 1 overall draft pick, it was an unusual and humbling moment — one he didn’t sugarcoat afterward.
Caleb Williams Opens Up
Williams spoke honestly about what it felt like to be benched in a blowout:
“It sucks that your guys are out on the field, and you’re not. And that’s frustrating because you put [in] so much time, energy and effort, and those guys are out there still battling and you’re on the sideline. But it was coach’s decision, and you gotta move on from it.”
That raw response is exactly what fans might expect from a competitor — disappointment, mixed with accountability. Williams also said he was still trying to help however he could, even from the sideline:
“In that situation, I’m thinking of how can I help this team, this offense? Whether it’s me saying something on the field or to whoever … just to get the momentum going.”
Tyson Bagent’s Role — and the Bigger Picture
Bagent, the Bears’ backup, handled the last two drives but isn’t a threat to take over QB1 duties. Chicago values him — enough to sign him to a two-year, $10 million extension — but Williams is firmly the franchise quarterback. Sunday’s decision was more about protecting him in a game already out of hand.
Still, the Bears’ faith in Bagent shows they’ve got a steady insurance policy should Williams ever need a breather.
The Mistakes Chicago Needs Fixed
Williams’ stat line wasn’t awful — 19-of-30 for 207 yards, two TDs, one INT — but the timing of mistakes hurt. The most glaring was a second-quarter interception on a second-and-32 play, a throw both Johnson and Williams admitted should’ve just gone out of bounds.
As Williams put it: “Tried to make a play … it was just a miscommunication on the field.”
For the Bears, the challenge now is cutting down on those “superhero” attempts and sharpening the simple throws.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the Bears return home to face the Dallas Cowboys in what feels like an early-season must-win. Williams will be back under center, and he’ll have a chance to show fans that being benched in Detroit was just one bump in the long road of his rookie year.