Caleb Williams sets NFL, Bears rookie season records

The USC product has not had an interception in his last 255 pass attempts, the longest streak by an NFL rookie and any Bears quarterback in history. Since throwing his final pick in the second quarter of an Oct. 13 win over the Jaguars in London, Williams has thrown 11 touchdown passes, including seven in the last three games.

“He doesn’t play scared,” interim head coach Thomas Brown said. “He rips some footballs into close windows. I think that’s probably even more impressive. It’s not like he sits back and doesn’t take advantage of an opportunity. (He’s) taking chances down the field. We always talk about trying to find ways to be aggressive, not reckless There is a fine line between the two.

In four games with Brown calling plays, Williams has completed 82 of 140 passes for 961 yards with seven TDs and a 96.2 passer rating.

When asked which of Williams’ skill sets he intends to focus on over the last four games, Brown said, “That’s everything … You’re always improving when it comes to just understanding our whole offense, one I was a part of, but also inherited, and trying to find ways to put in some different wrinkles here and there.

“Also, his overall fundamental development when it comes to under center play, the play-action game of reading defenses. His natural God-given ability is why he’s here. I can’t coach it. Nobody can. Just trying to find ways to build the skill set and the fundamentals to put them together and be the best he can be.”

Williams’ 16-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio is on pace to be the best by a Bears quarterback since Josh McCown (13-1) in 2013. Williams is one of seven NFL quarterbacks with better than a 3-1 ratio, joining Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, Bills’ Josh Allen and Chargers’ Justin Herbert.

The Bears held a walkthrough Thursday, but had they completed a full practice, five players would have been unable to participate: running backs D’Andre Swift (groin) and Roschon Johnson (concussion), offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion) , defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (knee) and cornerback Josh Blackwell (shoulder). Safety Elijah Hicks (ankle) would have been limited.

Brown revealed that the Bears intend to hold walk-throughs on Wednesdays for the rest of the season, saying, “It’s an opportunity to keep guys fresh. At this time of year, getting the job is always kind of a focus over the neck and then go back to work.”

Brown was asked if he rated himself after his first game as the Bears’ interim head coach last Sunday in San Francisco.

“I’m always reflective every single day, not just after games,” Brown said. “It’s about how I can improve to be the best I can for this whole unit. The ultimate character is to be successful during the football game, so that’s still not where we need to be for sure. Again, trying all the time finding ways to adapt and adjust myself is something I always reflect on.