There is excitement surrounding the Chicago Bears that hasn’t been around in quite some time. The buzz and hype that Caleb Williams brings to the organization is at the forefront of this newfound optimism for the Bears. It makes each roster move worth taking a closer look at.
The Bears made several additions to their roster last week, including signing former Nevada and USC wide receiver John Jackson III, per Ari Meirov.
Jackson is good friends with Williams following their time together at USC. They spent one season together with the Trojans in 2022 as Jackson transferred to Nevada before the 2023 season. Jackson caught one pass for three yards from Williams.
John Jackson Jr. was a standout receiver for the Trojans in the 80s. It didn’t work out for his son at USC, but Jackson is following in his father's footsteps by getting a shot in the NFL. The elder Jackson played 36 NFL games across four seasons, including five with the Bears in 1996.
Jackson's move to Nevada paid off as he saw more opportunities. He caught 35 passes for 267 yards, including a season-high 52 yards against USC. It wasn’t a standout final college season, but it was enough to warrant a contract offer from the Bears after he went undrafted.
Williams probably vouched for his friend and former teammate, but Jackson has to put the work in to make the roster. At the very least he'll be hoping to give himself a chance by making it to training camp. Earning some preseason snaps will be crucial to jump-starting his NFL career.
Bears offense ready to take off
The Bears offense took a step forward in 2023 after consecutive seasons ranking in the bottom 10 in points and total offense. The QB transition is expected to be a smooth one with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron coming into the fold as well.
Waldron is excited about working with Williams and the vast majority of weapons the Bears have at their disposal on offense.
“From the day I began meeting with coach [Matt Eberflus] and Ryan, I thought the clear connection and the clear vision they had with where they wanted to keep going with this program felt comfortable,” Waldron said Saturday, per the Bears website. “There was good, open and honest communication throughout the process. We were able to arrive at the spot we're at today with adding some talented players.”
Waldron got a chance to see Williams run some drills with fellow rookies over the weekend. Things will only grow from here as the regular season approaches. The Bears will learn who they play in Week 1 on Wednesday when the NFL schedule is released.
Waldron and Williams have everything they could want for a successful offense, so the pressure will be on from the jump to perform accordingly. The Bears have three solid wide receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield. Mix in a pair of veteran tight ends and Chicago has all the means to win games with their offense this season.
All eyes will be on Caleb Williams from the first snap of his NFL debut. Will the 22-year-old handle the spotlight and can the Bears turn the franchise into a perennial contender? Maybe those questions aren’t answered in 2024, but the next eight months will give a glimpse into what those answers could be.
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