Day 16 at Halas Hall brought the Bears’ ongoing left tackle battle into sharper focus while highlighting Caleb Williams’s resurgence. Williams directed a crisp two-minute drill, finishing with Cairo Santos’s game-clinching field goal, and connected repeatedly with top targets Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus in red-zone and situational shots. The left-tackle competition intensified as Ozzy Trapilo stayed at right tackle with Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet alternating with the starters at left tackle, signaling a wide-open, merit-based push for the job. Williams’ rapport with Odunze and Zaccheaus added optimism for the passing game, though pre-snap penalties persisted across units, a recurring theme from practice. Injury notes were modest but noteworthy, with Smith and McCloud in attendance and Luke Newman sidelined by concussion, while Dexter Sr. had his elbow checked but returned to the field. Overall the Bears appear to be carving a competitive path to Week 1, balancing development with urgency as the two-minute drill underscored Williams’s ability to ratchet up a late drive when needed.

The day’s rhythm pointed to a balanced offensive staff: Williams maximizing efficiency when clean, Odunze emerging as a legitimate go-to in red-zone sequences, Zaccheaus continuing to earn trust, and Trapilo’s cross-training offering versatility. The narrative around the left tackle spot remains unsettled, with Benedet’s rotation into the starting group amplifying the sense that the competition will stretch into August. Even with Williams’s improved performance, the team’s attention to pre-snap discipline and consistent pass protection will determine how quickly the offense can translate training-camp momentum into regular-season production.