Is Caleb Williams playing tonight? Update on Bears rookie for 2024 Hall of Fame Game vs. Texans

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is one of the most hyped prospects. The Bears selected the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

For Thursday's Hall of Fame game against the Houston Texans, Bears QB Caleb Williams won't participate, coach Matt Eberflus told reporters. Tyson Bagent will start the game as QB. Brett Rypien will serve as the primary backup in the customary preseason curtain raiser.

According to Fox Sports, Williams and other Bears starters will sit the game. Speaking on the decision to rest his starters, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said:

"We feel really good where our players are right now in terms of the padded practices we've had. We have had three so far and then have another one tomorrow. And have a lot of good work, ones on ones, two on twos, a lot of good situations."

"We got a head start there because we are in the Hall of Fame Game, which is very fortunate for us this year to be able to add those reps, time on task, as we say to our football team," he added.

What to expect from Caleb Williams in his rookie season

Caleb Williams will likely have a decent rookie season with the Chicago Bears. The Bears dealt former starter Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers to make room for Williams, and their fans will hope they made the right decision.

Williams' supporters will hope that the USC product can have a 2024 season similar to C.J. Stroud's in the upcoming NFL season. The Bears have surrounded him with elite receiving options, so there's no excuse heading into Year 1.

The Chicago Bears are expected to post a significantly better record than last year's 7-10 regular season record. The team looks significantly different from last season's, and anything less than a playoff push would be viewed as a disappointment.