NFL Rookie Roundup 360: Caleb Williams vs C.J. Stroud, Brian Thomas Jr. a ‘gamer’
Can Caleb Williams show improvement from his Week 1 lackluster performance in a win against the Tennessee Titans? That will be one of the big questions going into the Week 2 matchup between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans.
Though the Texans present a much tougher task than the Titans, Williams can only be better than the performance in his NFL debut. In that game, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards. It was a rough start, but Williams still looked like an NFL quarterback despite the slow start to his NFL career.
While getting Williams comfortable against a Texas front featuring Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, Bears’ offensive coordinator Shane Waldron knows the key to success is establishing the run, which will allow the rookie to play within his game and limit mistakes.
What Caleb Williams can learn from C.J. Stroud
Asked about what he wants to see from the former USC star, Waldron emphasized poise and communication.
“Just going out there and playing with clean eyes, clean feet,” Waldon said, via the team’s official website. “First chance to get out in a road environment, which I’m sure will be rocking on Sunday night, to be able to get to operate that way. Great communication with his guys up front, and the receivers, the running backs, the tight ends, everyone supporting him and knowing that as an offense, we want to keep improving every single week.”
Williams will also be learning from the man on the other sideline as the Bears’ defense will have a challenge ahead of them in containing the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft as CJ Stroud will look to put on a show on Sunday Night Football.
Coming off a game in which he threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, the Bears’ defense must pick their poison when it comes to this Texans’ offense that can beat a team with their ground attack or through the air. That is exactly how the Bears’ offense is set up around Williams. Seeing how the 2023 NFL Offensive rookie of the Year operates and leads the offense will help Williams grow.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars know they have something special in Brian Thomas Jr.
The top wide receivers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft didn’t make a lot of noise in their NFL debuts in Week 1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze were all pretty quiet, but one first round receiver who made his presence known is Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr., who didn’t look like a rookie at all according to Trevor Lawrence.
With the two connecting 4 times for 47 yards and a touchdown, Lawrence praised Thomas Jrs’ debut performance even in wake of a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
“He’s a gamer, and just shows up ready to play every time he goes out there,” Lawrence said, via the team’s official site. “That’s exciting to see as a quarterback, just some of the plays he made. He doesn’t seem like a rookie at all. He has that quiet confidence about him.”
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Don’t be surprised if Thomas Jr. ends up being the receiver that has the best season out of the rookies selected. He has the talent to be special and the chemistry he is forming with Lawrence will just get better. As a player at LSU shadowed by Malik Nabers, Thomas Jr. can be an explosive asset to the Jaguars’ offense which he showcased in his debut. Called a “huge spark” by tight end Even Engram, it’s that quiet confidence that makes Thomas Jr. a dark horse NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year contender.
Keep an eye on Thomas Jr. when the Jaguars take on a Cleveland Browns team desperate for a win.