The Bears still have four games remaining, but it's already been a record-breaking season for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
The No. 1 overall pick in the draft has set Bears rookie passing records for completions (270), yards (2,746) and touchdowns (16). But Williams' most impressive feat might be his active streak of seven straight games without throwing an interception.
It's the longest streak by an NFL rookie since at least 1950 and one shy of the Bears' all-time record of eight games set by Jim McMahon in 1984. Williams has an opportunity to tie McMahon's mark Monday night in Minnesota.
"I think protecting the ball is the most important thing," Williams said. "I'm going to try to do that and keep doing that for the next four games."
The USC product has not been intercepted in his last 255 pass attempts, the longest streak by an NFL rookie and any Bears quarterback in history. Since throwing his last 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's not playing scared," said interim head coach Thomas Brown. "He's ripping some footballs into tight windows. I think it's probably even more impressive. It's not like he's sitting back there not taking 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 of them."
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.
Asked which of Williams' skill sets he intends to focus on over the final four games, Brown said: "It's everything … You're always improving when it comes to just the understanding of our entire offense, one I was a part of but also inherited, and trying to find ways to put some different wrinkles in here and there.
"Also, his overall fundamental development when it comes to under center play, the play-action game to reading defenses. His natural God-given ability is why he's here. I can't coach that. 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."
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 the Ravens' Lamar Jackson, the Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa, the Eagles' Jalen Hurts, the Bills' Josh Allen and the Chargers' Justin Herbert.
Injury update
The Bears held a walk-through Thursday, but had they conducted 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: "That's an opportunity to keep guys fresh. At this point in the year, it's kind of always a point of emphasis to get the work above the neck and then go back to work."
Always reflective
Brown was asked whether he graded himself following his first game as Bears interim head coach last Sunday in San Francisco.
"I am always reflective every single day, not just after games," Brown said. "It's about how can I improve to be the best I can for this entire unit. The ultimate grade is having success during the football game, so that's still not where we need to be for sure. Again, always trying to find ways to adapt and adjust myself. How I call the game. Also, picking and choosing spots to be more aggressive at times. That is something I always reflect on."
