Caleb Williams, Bears to Play 3 NFL Network Preseason Games; Full Schedule Revealed

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVJune 11, 2024

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The NFL is going all-in on Caleb Williams.

Not only will the top overall pick be featured alongside his Chicago Bears teammates on HBO’s Hard Knocks, the NFL announced all three of the team’s preseason games will be featured on NFL Network.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetNFL Network has announced we will carry 21 live preseason games, with a heavy emphasis on the rookie QBs (with three #Bears games).

Also: A triple-header in Week 1 and quadruple headers in Weeks 2 and 3. Full slate: pic.twitter.com/FQn9fpPbAK

Nine of the 21 preseason games featured on NFL Network will include a quarterback taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Williams led a record six quarterbacks taken within the first 12 picks. Drake Maye (New England Patriots), J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings), Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) and Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons) will also be featured in preseason action.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is the only first-round quarterback who will not get a preseason showcase.

However, it is worth noting that Daniels and Williams are the only rookie quarterbacks currently favored to start with their current teams. This may be the only time Maye, McCarthy, Nix and Penix get to see some national spotlight during their first years, as all four have veteran quarterbacks ahead of them on the depth chart.

Williams is one of the most-hyped quarterback prospects of this generation and is leading a Bears team that sees the playoffs as a possibility. Chicago has done everything in its power to surround Williams with talent, as he’ll have a stellar receiving corps of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze and a solid running back room led by D’Andre Swift.