After choosing to keep quarterback Caleb Williams and Chicago Bears starters off the field during the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, head coach Ben Johnson has revised his strategy. The new plan will allow starters to play in the upcoming preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. This shift comes as Johnson aims to better assess his team’s performance in live game conditions and address offensive struggles.

Initial Strategy Focused on Practice Reps Over Game Time

Johnson’s original decision was based on the belief that the starters, including Williams, would benefit more from extensive reps during warmups and joint practices than from limited game action. In the first preseason matchup, Williams accumulated between 80 and 100 more reps than he would have by playing in the game, which Johnson saw as valuable for building chemistry with receivers and gaining experience.

“Our starters are going to play,”

Johnson confirmed to reporters.

“Everyone is going to play. Last week, and really all through camp, I’ve been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get (Williams) up to speed. By the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would have been able to do had he played in the game.”

—Ben Johnson, Head Coach

The Value of Live Game Experience

Although the warmup and practice reps helped Williams gain valuable repetitions, Johnson acknowledged the irreplaceable nature of real game situations. Playing in live action provides critical insight into how the offense functions under pressure and allows both coaches and players to identify areas for improvement.

“There is no substitute for real live bullets, I get that,”

Johnson emphasized.

“But at the same time, when you can accumulate 70-plus reps in a day, that’s pretty good. That goes a long way in terms of where you want to go with the connection with the quarterback and his pass catchers.”

—Ben Johnson, Head Coach

Addressing Offensive Challenges Through Increased Playing Time

This decision to field starters comes amid ongoing offensive difficulties, which prompted fans and analysts to call for more game exposure for Williams and his teammates. Johnson admitted that the practice environment was deliberately demanding, creating pressure that would push players to develop faster and enhance communication.

“We’ve challenged him. It’s been a lot and that’s by design,”

Johnson explained.

“So, if we struggle at all in the huddle getting the play out, then the delays are going to pop up. That’s a little bit a part of the learning process and us growing. By design, we’ve made this very challenging and hard. And we know what we need to do as a staff to alleviate that pressure.”

—Ben Johnson, Head Coach

Preparing for a Smoother Transition Into the Regular Season

By allowing Williams and the starters to take the field in actual preseason game action, Johnson aims to accelerate the team‘s development so that their execution becomes automatic by the start of the regular season. This hands-on experience is expected to help players recognize what works and what does not under real conditions, building greater confidence and cohesion.

Johnson also indicated that the total playing time for Williams and others in Sunday’s game will remain uncertain until after the joint practice on Friday, suggesting a cautious but flexible approach to managing reps during the second preseason outing.