NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Caleb Williams’ exhibition season is over — the Bears quarterback will not play in the team’s finale against the Titans on Saturday.
Tyson Bagent, the second-stringer, went through warmups with the starters. Williams watched from the sideline in a T-shirt and sunglasses.
Most of the Bears’ starters will sit out the game. Williams threw passes to his top receivers hours before kickoff.
Bears coach Ben Johnson had been noncommittal the past two weeks about whether he’d play his starters following a joint practice. He gave his starting offense nine snaps — two came back because of penalties — two days after practicing against the Bengals last week. He opted against that this week. The team’s starters played significant snaps in stifling heat on Thursday at the Titans’ practice facility.
Saturday night’s game — the latest preseason finale in the NFL — will be one last chance to Bears players to earn a roster spot. The team must cut its roster down to 53 players by 5 p.m. Sunday.