Bears and Colts look to define their identity as young quarterbacks struggle with growing pains | National

If pressure produces diamonds, the Bears can speak in absolutes when they call rookie quarterback Caleb Williams a gem. Williams and the Bears are licking their wounds and heading on the road for a second straight game, with a short trip to Indianapolis on Sunday. Chicago is planning “no changes” to the personnel protecting Williams, and head coach Matt Eberflus is confident the initial pain won't be quite so literal going forward. The Texans sacked Williams seven times in Houston on Sunday night and hit him in the pocket on four other plays, not counting Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's sideline attack on the chains. “There are some great learning moments there in terms of pressure,” Eberflus said. Depending on who's answering the question, Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, lacked either the protection or the patience to utilize the array of weapons the Bears proudly assembled around him in the offseason. He enters Week 3 as the team's leading runner with 59 yards and has completed just one pass of 20 yards, no touchdown passes and has been sacked nine times in his first two NFL games. After completing 5 of 5 passes on the opening drive in Houston, the Texans applied heavy pressure. On plays where he was under pressure, Williams' completion rate dipped below 35 percent, totaling 33 yards with two interceptions. “I'm still a little banged up. Physically and with all the movement, I feel good throwing and running around,” Williams said Wednesday. The Bears overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans in the opening game by just 148 yards of offense. New coordinator Shane Waldron has a 44-66 run-pass ratio through two games and the Bears are converting 26.7 percent of third down attempts. No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore vented his anger over the loss but said Wednesday he showed “too much frustration” on the sideline. He stressed the importance of the Bears “focusing on their identity, whether it's running the ball or passing the ball.” Moore was not on the injury list for Chicago, but Keenan Allen (heel) is out for the second straight week and will not travel with the team. Rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) is eligible to play. The Colts could be ripe for the picking on the ground. Packers running back Josh Jacobs gained 151 yards in Week 2 and Indianapolis defensive tackle DeForest Buckner landed on the injured list with an ankle injury. “Obviously a big blow,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said of Buckner's injury. “Phenomenal teammate, phenomenal player for our football team, phenomenal player for the NFL. This guy is so damn tough.” With Buckner out, Indianapolis could rely more heavily on rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu to cover Williams. Latu was out of action earlier in the week with a hip injury but is expected to play. Barring any turnovers, the Bears will likely test the Colts’ newfound defense. Indianapolis has been grilled for 474 rushing yards and 5.1 yards per carry this season. Williams said the two “dumb mistakes,” referring to his interceptions last week, won’t happen again, but admits he’s still adjusting to the NFL. “I’m just getting used to getting hit again, it’s been a while. The last time I got hit — like, really hit — was Nov. 18 (his last game at USC),” Williams said. “I’m getting used to it, I’m getting used to having games like that, there’s going to be games like that. This is the NFL.” The Bears’ health would also be a concern if guards Teven Jenkins (hamstring) and Nate Davis (groin) miss the game. Jenkins was able to practice on Friday and is not on the final injury list, while Davis is questionable. Eberflus, who has an 11-25 record as the Bears’ head coach, returns to his old stomping grounds at Lucas Oil Stadium. Before being hired by Chicago, Eberflus was the Colts’ defensive coordinator. Indianapolis (0-2) lost to Houston in Week 1 and then lost a 16-10 battle at Green Bay last week. The Colts’ best passer, Anthony Richardson, a 2023 first-round pick, threw three interceptions at Lambeau Field and has a passer rating of 63.1 (Williams is at 53). Richardson was drafted fourth but will make just his seventh career start on Sunday. Steichen said Richardson makes the right decisions and won't overreact in a game with a lot of turnovers. He's following the same trajectory he saw in Justin Herbert's development as a rookie with the Chargers. “After four, maybe five games, he was on a roll,” Steichen said of Herbert's development. “That's the thing, as long as the ball goes to the right place — anything just takes time. That's a process you go through with young quarterbacks. But he's a damn good football player and we're excited to have him.” Steichen, who is 9-10 as a head coach and in his second season with the Colts, would like to see the offense get going quicker. Before the fourth quarter of the first two games, Indianapolis has scored a total of 16 points. Wide receiver Josh Downs has practiced all week and is cleared to make his debut in 2024. The goal for his second year is a valuable slot receiver and a taker for Richardson. “They had a good connection last year, it will definitely help to have him back,” Steichen said. The Colts are averaging 6.1 yards per carry this season and the running game could help counter Chicago's aggressive front seven. Richardson has 10 carries for 93 yards and Jonathan Taylor has 151 rushing yards. “They fly around pretty well. I have a lot of respect for 'Flus,'” Steichen said, referring to the Bears' four takeaways and punt block. “They do a lot with movement. We have to be ready for them.” This is the first meeting between the teams since the Colts beat the Bears 19-11 in Chicago in 2020. – Field Level Media