- Kansas City Chiefs. Andy Reid gives troubling update on Isiah Pacheco's ankle injury and Mahomes trembles
- Houston Texans. Texans linebacker escapes ejection after throwing punch in heated Texans-Bears game
Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has found himself in the hot seat after a tough start to his NFL career.
Caleb Williams' 'Welcome to the NFL' game
After two difficult outings to start the season, fans and critics alike are voicing concerns about the No. 1 overall draft pick's performance.
Sunday night's 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans marked another frustrating chapter in Williams' early NFL journey.
Facing relentless pressure from the Texans' defense, he was sacked seven times and threw two costly interceptions, leaving fans wondering whether he can rise to the expectations set for him.
The rookie finished the game completing 23 of 37 es for 174 yards, and for the second straight week, he failed to throw a touchdown.
"I'm a little bruised up," Williams itted post-game.
"I took a couple of hits today. I'm going to get in ice tubs and do all the things I need to do to make sure my body is ready for tomorrow and practice."
Bears QB going through NFL growing pains
The criticism surrounding Williams has only intensified.
Many expected a smoother transition from college to the pros, given his stellar performance at USC, where he threw for nearly 7,900 yards and 72 touchdowns.
However, the NFL has proven to be a different beast.
His struggles have drawn comparisons to last year's No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young, who also had a rough rookie campaign.
Some fans have pointed to the Bears' struggling offensive line as a major factor in Williams' difficulties.
In the game against Houston, the Bears' O-line gave up 28 quarterback pressures, with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright particularly struggling to protect their quarterback.
Despite this, critics argue that Williams has failed to make the most of his opportunities when protection has been there.
Williams' difficulty against the blitz has been particularly glaring.
According to Next Gen Stats, the rookie earned a 4.9 er rating versus the blitz in Week 2-marking the worst performance in that metric since 2016.
Houston's defense frequently overwhelmed the young quarterback, and Williams' discomfort was clear as he overthrew receivers and made risky decisions under pressure.
"There were certain points where I think he did a really good job riding up in the pocket and making some good throws," said Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
"But he has to be careful with the football after he gets out there when he throws the ball in a scramble drill."
For Williams, the growing pains are real, and the weight of expectations is heavy.
While some blame the offensive line for his struggles, others believe the quarterback needs to adjust more quickly to the speed and complexity of the NFL game.
Though it's still early in the season, it's clear that Caleb Williams has much to prove.
NFL fans know that rookie quarterbacks face steep learning curves, and Williams is no exception.
But as the criticism mounts, the Bears and their rookie quarterback will need to find a way to turn things around soon.