Caleb Williams' Progress On Full Display In Week 5

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was outstanding in Sunday's 36-10 blowout Week 5 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Williams completed 20-of-29 passing attempts for 304 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. It was the best performance to date of his young career.

Williams' first score was a 34-yard touchdown pass to superstar receiver D.J. Moore, who was traded to Chicago from Carolina along with the eventual No. 1 overall selection that landed Williams in the Windy City. It was a play-action concept from a clean pocket. The rookie signal-caller located a wide-open Moore to equalize the game at seven apiece.

Williams' second touchdown to Moore signaled real progress. After rushing touchdowns from D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson blew open Chicago's lead to 21-7, the former USC standout made one of his best decisions of the season. The play was designed for Keenan Allen to uncover, but the Panthers’ deep safety recognizes the concept and begins working toward the designated target. After looking the safety off, Williams calmly goes through his progressions and identifies Moore in a favorable one-on-one opportunity as a result.

Williams has displayed improvement every single week and Sunday's showing was the culmination of that progress. Williams' passer rating has enjoyed an upward trajectory in each contest. It was a lackluster 55.7 in Week 1, and reached 126.2 in Sunday's dominant win over the Panthers, third-best among Week 5 quarterbacks. It was his second consecutive game with a passer rating above 100.

Williams worked all three levels of the field like a true veteran. He hasn't committed a turnover in consecutive contests. Williams also made necessary second-reaction plays, flashing positive signs of development in all areas.

Credit the Bears' previously struggling offensive line as well. Williams was sacked just once despite averaging a time-to-throw of 2.94 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the eighth-slowest time of all starting quarterbacks across Week 5.

Williams' Expected Points Added (EPA) per play was an elite 0.42, per RBSDM. He finished with a total EPA of 16.2, fourth-best among Week 5 quarterbacks heading into Monday Night Football. Both results represent personal season-bests. Williams' average depth of target (aDoT) was a healthy 7.1, which is right around the range offensive coordinator Shane Waldron would like to see him settle into weekly.

Williams mixed aggression with smart QB play all afternoon long. A 42-yard completion to Swift traveled 41.9 air yards, the ninth-longest completed air distance (LCAD) of Week 5. Yet Williams' aggressiveness percentage (AGG%) was 10.3%, sixth-lowest, meaning he wasn't unnecessarily testing tight windows.

Williams' completion percentage of 71.4% (excluding spikes and throwaways) was actually 2.8% above his expected 68.6%. That gave Williams a positive Completion Percentage Above Expected (CPOE) for a third consecutive week. The data has been trending in an extremely positive direction.

Williams began the new campaign in fairly disappointing fashion, but he's been more productive with each passing showing. The Bears are seeing real in-season progress from their No. 1 overall selection. Williams is beginning to fulfill Chicago's lofty expectations.