Video: C.J. Stroud’s Message to Caleb Williams After Bears vs. Texans Revealed

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 17, 2024

Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

C.J. Stroud may be in just his second season in the NFL, but he is an established superstar and one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

There are far worse people for a rookie signal-caller to receive advice from, and that is exactly what happened for Caleb Williams after Stroud’s Houston Texans defeated his Chicago Bears on Sunday.

“Stop taking those hits,” Stroud told Williams after the game. “Learn from those mistakes. Everything that you got, bro, is in you already, bro. You’re going to be a hell of a player in this league.”

NFL @NFL.@CJ7STROUD had some words of encouragement for @CALEBcsw.

“You’re gonna be a hell of a player in this league.” 🤝 pic.twitter.com/EkGCMOl0ew

Chicago’s defense played well enough to win in the 19-13 loss, but the offensive line’s complete failure to protect Williams was the major storyline. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft was sacked seven times and hit 11 times.

Kevin Patra of NFL.com noted Next Gen Stats revealed Chicago’s five starting offensive linemen alone gave up 28 quarterback pressures, which is completely unsustainable with a rookie quarterback making his second career start against a potential Super Bowl contender.

“I’m a little bruised up,” Williams told reporters. “I took a couple 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 other the other days and obviously next game.”

The pressure got to him as the game progressed, as he started 12-of-15 for 91 yards and a 91.9 passer rating before halftime but went 11-of-22 for 83 yards, two interceptions and a 21.6 rating in the second half, per Patra.

Chicago didn’t do him many favors either, as there were multiple false starts out of timeouts and two poor challenges from head coach Matt Eberflus that cost the visitors timeouts. Running back D’Andre Swift also finished with 18 yards on 14 carries and struggled to find holes behind the same porous offensive line.

Stroud was something of a best-case scenario for a rookie quarterback, as he won Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Texans to an AFC South crown. He also won a playoff game.

Chicago surely envisioned something similar when it paired Williams with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and Swift, but its offensive line will have to take drastic strides as the season progresses to make that a reality.