Is Caleb Williams too good for the preseason? That’s the question on everyone’s lips after former Bears wideout Victor Cruz weighed in on the hot-button topic of whether rookie sensation Williams should see action in the Hall of Fame Game. 

In a conversation on The Carton Show, Bears’ ex-WR is firmly in the camp of protecting the prized rookie. “This game doesn’t matter and I’m not putting him out there and risk him getting hurt,” Cruz declared. “He’s only been in camp for 6-7 days, and it’s too early in the season to put him under circumstances that aren’t conducive to something that he’ll be playing all year long.”

The former wideout argued the preseason opener is too soon to expose Williams to the rigors of football, especially since he won’t get a real sense of what it’s like to be an NFL QB. “I just think you wanna get him in the system, keep him in there, and design these scenarios so he gets acclimated to the game type. This way, he could go out there and put his best foot forward,” Cruz explained, backing up his point. 

With the Texans fielding a second-string defense, it’s a low-risk, high-reward situation for the Chicago team. Plus, it’s a good enough opportunity for the 22-year-old QB to shake off those first-game jitters. While Cruz’s concerns are valid, there’s no denying the upside of getting some preseason action. With all eyes on the Bears’ No. 1 overall draft pick, it will be fun to watch if he participates in Canton. 

Williams eager to unleash in the Hall of Fame game against the Texans 

Caleb Williams has made it clear he wants to play in the HOF game against the Houston team. “I always think there are more pros than cons,” the 22-year-old said of playing in the preseason opener in Canton. The former Oklahoma standout is eager to see how those live reps fast-track his game, “The reps are paramount… it’s important.”

The HOF game vs. Texans’ thrill will be on a different level, but will the Chicago team risk putting their No. 1 overall pick in harm’s way? Coach Matt Eberflus has denied Williams’ request to play the Thursday game against Houston. NFL.com reported backup Tyson Bagent will get the start. 

Let’s see what happens at the HOF game; the league will be watching closely!