Caleb Williams has the full weight of the expectations that come with being a franchise quarterback and the No. 1 overall pick in his rookie season on his shoulders, and few would know what that's like better than Matthew Stafford.
Stafford was once the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft and going through the growing pains of being a rookie on the Detroit Lions. He believe Williams will work through those on the Chicago Bears and become a game-changing quarterback just like he did.
"Mine was tough for sure," Stafford told reporters Wednesday when discussing his rookie season. "We were a team in a lot of transition at that point. It's a long time ago, trying to remember all of it. There were some big-time highs and there were some big-time lows, as far as my play and our team's performance. It's all a learning opportunity [and] a chance to find what you can do [and] what you can't do.
"He's obviously immensely talented. He makes plays every single week that you see on TV that blow you away as a quarterback. I sit there and go, man, that is some incredible stuff. I'm sure there are plays he wants back, like all of us. He seems like a sharp kid, obviously, really talented. I'm sure he'll figure it out more and more as he continues to play. I'm sure he is going to have a great career."
Stafford threw for 2,267 yards, 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions as a rookie but eventually worked through those initial ups-and-downs to become a Super Bowl champion who is 11th on the NFL's all-time list in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Williams is a long way from that as a 1-2 quarterback for the Bears, but he has shown growth in each of his three games. After throwing for just 93 yards in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans and zero touchdowns to two interceptions in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he threw for 363 yards, two touchdowns and two picks against the Indianapolis Colts.
Now he will have a chance to continue that trend of improvement against Stafford's Rams, who are 29th in the league in passing yards allowed through the first three weeks.
If Keenan Allen returns to the field, Williams will have no shortage of weapons in Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. The offensive line has been an issue, but Chicago is surely hoping the overall offensive unit can find more consistency against a vulnerable Los Angeles defense.
If it does, Williams can have more of those plays that "blow you away" as the Bears look to get on track before the middle of his rookie campaign.
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