Caleb Williams was dubbed the Bears' franchise quarterback when the team selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He didn't have his best stuff in his first NFL start against the Titans, but the Bears still found a way to win. That made Williams the first No. 1 overall pick quarterback to win his first start since David Carr in 2002.
Chicago earned a 24-17 victory over Tennessee, but most of their scoring came on defense. They notched a blocked punt touchdown recovery and a pick-six to be Will Levis and the Titans in a tightly contested battle.
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On offense, Williams struggled through some early game jitters and inconsistencies typical of a rookie starter. It affirmed that despite his high-end potential, the rookie still has a ways to go before he can be considered a high-end NFL starter.
Here's what to know about Williams' debut against the Titans.
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Caleb Williams stats today
Williams had a rocky debut for the Bears despite their victory. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes and failed to eclipse 100 yards passing during the outing.
Below is a full look at the rookie's stats from his official NFL debut.
| Stat | Total |
| Comp-Att (%) | 14-29 (48.3%) |
| Passing yards | 92 |
| Pass TDs | 0 |
| INTs | 0 |
| Yards per attempt | 3.2 |
| Passer rating | 55.5 |
Williams also added 15 rushing yards on five rushes (two of which were end-of-game kneel-downs), but his outing was largely devoid of big-time plays, positive or negative.
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Caleb Williams highlights
Williams dealt with some jitters early in the game against the Titans. He overthrew Keenan Allen for a potential touchdown and also tried to make a spectacular, Fran Tarkenton-esque scramble before running into a massive sack.
Sebastian Joseph-Day takes down Caleb Williams for the sack #TitanUp
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/jO9gkSJcBL
Those plays highlighted a couple of Williams' biggest rookie mistakes, but they were far from his only gaffes.
The good news for Bears fans is that Williams didn't turn the ball over and also took just two sacks during the contest despite dealing with consistent pressure. Additionally, the No. 1 pick showed off his arm strength with a tight-window throw to D.J. Moore for an 11-yard gain on one of his best plays of the day.
Caleb Williams with some serious zip on this throw
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/cYdbwv4J9p
The positives from Williams' debut were measured, at best. He didn't make any big-time throws and only led the Bears to 10 offense points during the contest.
Still, Bears fans won't complain much about his lackluster debut. Chicago got a Week 1 win, and that's all the Bears faithful will care about ahead of their Week 2 meeting with the Texans.
