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Tyson Bagent, 23, is expected to serve as the
backup. He started four games as an undrafted rookie last
season.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus didn't mince words when announcing the
decision on Williams.
"No conversation. He's the starter," Eberflus said.
Williams, 22, said he's ready to take the steps to learn how to
lead.
"To be a great leader, you have to learn how to follow first. So
right now I'm following all the vets, I'm following all the
coaches, I'm listening -- having both ears open and my mouth
shut -- just kind of sitting back listening," he said. "When I
get to the point of when I learn everything, when I learn the
ways of how we do it, the culture, the playbook and what the
offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs and
tight ends, things like that, then you can start taking the
lead, then you can start taking the helms of it and take the
next steps.
"For right now though, I'm listening more than I'm speaking and
talking and I'm taking it one step at a time and being in the
moment."
Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and passed for 3,633
yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans in
2023.
In three seasons at Oklahoma (2021) and USC combined, Williams
put up prolific passing numbers: 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns and
14 interceptions with 27 rushing TDs.
Bagent completed 94 of 143 passes for 859 yards with three
touchdowns and six interceptions in five games last season.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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