The Chicago Bears enter the season as one of the teams with the highest expectations, thanks to an offseason full of strong moves, at least on paper, that included giving Caleb Williams better weapons on offense and pairing him with Ben Johnson, one of the NFL’s top modern offensive minds.
Heading into Week 2 of the preseason, what will be the Bears’ plan regarding whether the starters will play or rest? Here’s a look at which players will take the field and what to expect from the Bears’ second preseason outing against the Bills.
Are Caleb Williams and other Bears’ Starters Playing Against Buffalo Tonight?
Fans eagerly awaited seeing Williams and other starters in the team’s preseason debut against the Dolphins, but the Bears chose to rest their starters and give more playing time to backups and players fighting for a roster spot.
That wait is over, as Johnson has confirmed that the starters, including Williams, will play against the Bills on Sunday night, 8:00 pm ET, marking a highly anticipated first look at the partnership between the quarterback and the franchise’s new head coach.
#Bears HC Ben Johnson said his starters — including QB Caleb Williams — will play Sunday night in their preseason game vs. the Buffalo Bills. pic.twitter.com/IXRiGo62y8
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 13, 2025
The Bears have spent years searching for their franchise quarterback, and Williams arrived with that label after being selected with the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft. However, his rookie season did not end as expected, and the coaching staff turmoil involving Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron directly impacted his play, leaving Williams looking drained by the end of the year.
That is why there is such high anticipation that Johnson, with his modern concepts, can bring out the best in Williams in the NFL. He proved he could run a creative and efficient offense with Jared Goff in Detroit and now has the chance to cement his name among the league’s top coaches if he can replicate that success in Chicago.
Which Young Bears Will Get Their Chance Tonight?
The spotlight in the Bears’ second preseason game will inevitably be on Williams and his connection with rookies Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland. While the team heavily invested in the offensive line during the offseason, bringing in Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson, the draft focus was on adding skill players.
These Caleb Williams TD passes are even more impressive from this angle 🎯@CALEBcsw | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/HaOcSjbf84
— NFL (@NFL) July 17, 2025
Johnson thrived in Detroit with productive slot receivers and tight ends, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta standing out under his guidance. Expectations are that he will tap into the dynamism of these two rookies early in his system, providing Williams with reliable short targets to work the field.
Defensively, the Bears kept a solid core intact, and it’s always tricky to evaluate defenders in the preseason, given the lower intensity, which tends to favor the offense and requires a more cautious analysis. Rookie Shemar Turner was the most anticipated defensive addition, but he’s injured and not expected to play.
That shifts attention to Ruben Hyppolite II, who has a legitimate shot at earning a role in certain defensive packages at linebacker, and Zah Frazier, a fifth-round cornerback out of UTSA, competing for the nickel job currently held by Kyler Gordon.
Still, in the end, all eyes will be on how Williams performs in this revamped offense. He finished last season ranked 33rd in the PFSN QB+ metric, watching Jayden Daniels beat out Bo Nix and lead his team to the playoffs. Now, the pressure is squarely on Williams to deliver in 2025 with a stronger, retooled roster.
