Bears QB Caleb Williams expected to play 45-65 snaps in preseason, per Matt Eberflus Eberflus cited the 2023 quarterback class’ preseason reps as the baseline for that decision.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Friday he plans to get rookie quarterback Caleb Williams 45-65 snaps throughout the team’s four preseason games.
Eberflus stressed that the plan hasn’t been finalized, and the Bears don’t start playing until facing the Texans in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 1.
Eberflus used the 2023 rookie class as a reference point, saying that’s roughly the amount of playing time first-round picks Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson got.
Bears Showing Interest in Veteran Free Agent LB: Report.
The Chicago Bears brought former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Shaquille Quarterman in for a workout on July 18. ESPN insider Adam Schefter was first to report the news.
Quarterman, 26, was a fourth-round pick for the Jaguars in 2020. He has appeared in 63 games for Jacksonville in that span, serving primarily on special teams. Currently still a free agent, the veteran linebacker would likely be a special teams-only addition for Chicago.
The Bears currently have one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL, led by starters Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn. Chicago also has solid depth at the position, with second-year standout Noah Sewell, Micah Baskerville and Amen Ogbongbemiga all competing for roster spots.
Quarterman and Ogbongbemiga, who has appeared in 47 games with two starts over his career, are similar in size, experience and stature. Thus, both will likely be competing against each other to fill a similar special teams/backup LB role.
New Kickoff Rules Have Bears Looking for Special Teams Standouts
Due to the NFL’s new kickoff rules, many teams are scrambling to find both effective returners and capable blockers. One new aspect of the rule dictates that when defending kickoffs, special teams players will now line up at the 40- and 35-yard lines. They are not allowed to move until a returner catches and fields the ball.
Therefore, players with decent speed and strong tackling skills are more valuable than ever on special teams. Bears special teams coach Richard Hightower hinted in May the team may also be looking for potential blockers for the return game. Quarterman could meet that criteria, as well.
“I don’t know to what extent because the league is all about matchups, especially when you’re dealing with like special teams,” Hightower said, via Zack Pearson of Bear Report. “So like we’re going to have to match up with whatever personnel group we’re going against. And we’ve been fortunate to have bigger players that can run and also even smaller players who are more powerful like a Roschon [Johnson] or like a [Travis] Homer. Those guys can block linebackers and they’re fast enough to block DBs.”
What Would Bears Be Getting if They Sign LB Shaquille Quarterman?
