The Chicago Bears unabashedly went all-in on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in the offseason.
While the top overall draft pick has produced mixed results through three games, the Bears (1-2) hope to stabilize their attack as other members of the offense return to health for a Sunday home game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Chicago received positive news Wednesday when veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen practiced in a limited role. Allen has missed the past two games, both road losses, due to plantar fasciitis.
“His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is gonna be great for us,” Williams said.
A known commodity in the middle of the field, Allen figures to provide security for Williams, who has remained under duress behind a transitioning offensive line.
Chicago yielded four sacks in a 21-16 loss at Indianapolis last week. Williams was sacked seven times the week before in Houston.
Right tackle Darnell Wright is day-to-day with a back injury, and his possible absence could mean further shuffling for Bears coach Matt Eberflus and Co.
“We’re looking at the best five (offensive linemen),” Eberflus said. “We don’t want musical chairs in there. It’s early in the season. We’re looking for that.”
The Bears struggled to run on a struggling Indianapolis rush defense. Williams passed for 363 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career but also was responsible for three turnovers — two interceptions and a strip sack.
Los Angeles avoided an 0-3 start by rallying from a 14-point, second-half deficit to edge the visiting San Francisco 49ers 27-24. Joshua Karty kicked the winning 37-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
While the Rams (1-2) aspire to play from ahead on Sunday and throughout the season, they also find that reeling in opponents is made easier with quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.
Los Angeles defensive tackle Kobie Turner described Stafford’s calmness after the Rams forced a punt, giving the offense the ball back with 42 seconds to play in a tie game.
“Everybody’s hurrahing and everybody’s super excited and Matt is just still,” Turner said. “He’s just calm and he’s going on the field, it looks like it’s a normal day.
“And so when you kind of see that presence — never being too high, never being too low — and you see the fire that he plays with, you know and you have complete confidence in the fact that he’s going to put us in the best situations.”
Rams running back Kyren Williams rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns to go with a receiving score against San Francisco. Stafford passed for 221 yards and a touchdown even though top targets Cooper Kupp (ankle), Puka Nacua (knee) and Tyler Higbee (knee) were sidelined due to injury.
Nacua (injured reserve) and Higbee (physically unable to perform list) remain out. Rams coach Sean McVay said this week that while Kupp is “attacking every single day,” the former Super Bowl MVP won’t be able to play against Chicago.
Los Angeles tight end Davis Allen (back) was limited in practice on Wednesday.
Four Chicago players sat out the team’s Wednesday practice: Wright, defensive back Terell Smith (hip) and defensive linemen Zacch Pickens (groin) and Darrell Taylor (illness).
The Bears lead the all-time series with the Rams 54-39-3 and boast a three-game home winning streak in the series.
–Field Level Media
