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August 15, 2026· 2 min read
Caleb Williams gets extended workout before sitting Bears preseason opener
Caleb Williams won’t play against the Browns, but the Bears QB completed a roughly 42-minute scripted workout with other resting skill players before kickoff
August 15, 2026· 2 min read
ByBryan Perez
August 15, 2026 · 2 min read
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Caleb Williams won’t play in the Chicago Bears’ preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, but Ben Johnson wasn’t about to let his starting quarterback have the day off
Williams and several Bears skill-position players who won’t play Saturday completed an approximately 42-minute scripted workout before the game, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs
The session was scripted by Johnson and Chicago’s offensive coaching staff, giving the Bears’ resting starters another opportunity to get meaningful work without exposing them to unnecessary preseason game reps
It’s also consistent with what Williams said earlier this week about his approach to August
“I don’t have a preference,” Williams said when asked whether he wanted to play in the preseason. “Whatever coach says, I treat practice like it’s a game.”
Bears finding ways to get Caleb Williams meaningful reps
There’s an obvious balancing act for Johnson throughout the preseason
Williams is entering his third NFL season, and his second in Johnson’s offense, so this isn’t the same quarterback who needed every available rep as a rookie. He has a full year in the system behind him and has spent the summer building on that foundation
At the same time, Williams isn’t a finished product
There are still details Chicago wants its franchise quarterback to sharpen before Week 1, and completely shutting him down throughout the preseason wouldn’t necessarily accomplish that
A lengthy scripted workout offers something of a compromise
Williams can work through the offense with many of his regular weapons, focus on timing and execution, and simulate some of the preparation that comes with a game day without taking hits from the Browns
That’s especially valuable considering how aggressively injuries have already hit Chicago during training camp
Safety Coby Bryant underwent knee surgery and could miss four to six months. Wide receiver Luther Burden III is dealing with a groin injury that is expected to sideline him until the opener. The Bears have also been without cornerback Kyler Gordon for an extended stretch
There isn’t much upside in adding Williams to that list during an exhibition game
Tyson Bagent gets the preseason spotlight
With Williams watching from the sideline, Tyson Bagent will get an extended opportunity to operate Johnson’s offense against Cleveland. Johnson announced earlier this week that Bagent would start the preseason opener and likely play the entire first half
Meanwhile, Williams can continue doing exactly what he said he planned to do: treat practices, scrimmages and joint sessions like games until Johnson decides he needs actual preseason snaps
“I don’t know what’s going on in Bossman’s mind,” Williams joked earlier this week
Whatever Johnson has planned for Williams later in the preseason remains to be seen. But Saturday’s 42-minute workout offered a glimpse into how the Bears intend to handle their franchise quarterback when he’s not playing
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Tags:Caleb williamsChicago bearsNfl preseason
Bryan PerezManaging Editor at BearsTalk
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