Caleb Williams stats today: Bears QB makes highlight-reel throws in preseason opener vs. Bills

The Bears wasted no time naming Caleb Williams their starter after selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The USC product showed exactly why Chicago wasn't afraid to trust him during his preseason debut Saturday.

Williams sat out the Bears' Hall of Fame Game matchup with the Texans but thrived in his first NFL preseason start against the Bills. He played two drives for Chicago and led them to points on both, consistently moving the ball despite playing against a stout Buffalo defense that had most of its starters in action.

Williams made plays both on-script and off-script, showcasing the play-making skills that had many comparing him to Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes .

Here's a look at Williams' strong NFL preseason debut as his best highlights from it.

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Caleb Williams stats today

Williams played two drives for the Bears in the team's 33-6 win over the Bills. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards, good for the most during the game despite his limited playing time.

Below is a full look at Williams' stats from his first professional outing:

Williams also ran for 13 yards on his lone scramble during the contest. His mobility was on full display, as he frequently maneuvered inside and outside the pocket to create throwing lanes to hit his receivers.

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Caleb Williams highlights from Bears vs. Bills

Williams' playmaking skills were on display early and often during his preseason debut. His first completion was a third-down laser to DJ Moore that was thrown with good zip and accuracy into a tight window. The play gave the Bears their first first-down of the day.

A play later, Williams completed a screen pass dump-off to D'Andre Swift that was anything but easy.

Williams had defenders bearing down on him quickly, with one free runner getting a hand in his face just as he was about to release the ball. He didn't have the space or time needed to execute his throwing motion, so he sent a shot put-style toss in Swift's direction that sprung the running back for a 42-yard gain.

But Williams' most impressive play of the day came on his second drive. He faked a hand-off to Khalil Herbert before taking off on a bootleg to the right side. Bills edge rusher Dawuane Smoot got by Gerald Everett's block and cut off Williams, taking away his room to scramble forward to the line of scrimmage.

That didn't bother Williams. He kept scrambling toward the sideline and released the ball before Smoot could get to him. The throw was a perfect downfield dart to tight end Cole Kmet that went for a 26-yard gain.

Williams may have some room for improvement as he looks to finish drives in the red zone, but growing pains in that area are to be expected from a rookie. The No. 1 overall pick looks like he will bring a great mix of mobility and arm talent to the Bears' backfield.

If he can polish his play as he gets more reps while remaining a hard-to-defend playmaking threat, the Bears could find themselves in the thick of the NFC wild-card race.