Caleb Williams will not play in the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, confirmed by Bears coach Ben Johnson.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed that Caleb Williams will not play in the team’s 2025 preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. Appearing on CHGO’s show with Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns, Johnson emphasized that the Bears’ joint practices and camp work have served as meaningful evaluations—making it unnecessary to expose Williams to early preseason action.
This decision marks one of Johnson’s earliest public coaching moves, offering insights into his trust in practice as preparation—and in Williams’ development timetable. Johnson made it clear that the joint practices will be the real test for the starters, and they will get more meaningful action during those snaps than from a few scripted plays during the game itself.
While some fans might view a preseason absence as a missed debut, the measured logic reveals a coach building for long-term success, not immediate gratification.
Now, all eyes turn to those joint practices—and eventually the Week 1 game—to see when Williams will finally take the field in a game setting. Until then, let’s sit back and enjoy Tyson Bagent slice up some backups.
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