Caleb Williams’ Growth Has Been Key for the Bears - But a Major O-Line Injury Could Be a Game-Changer Against the Rams
Caleb Williams’ rookie season was a trial by fire - 68 sacks taken, the most in the league, and a harsh introduction to life under center in the NFL. But this year?
A different story entirely. Williams has taken just 25 sacks, even after one playoff game.
That’s not just a number - that’s a reflection of a quarterback growing in confidence, a coaching staff adjusting to his strengths, and, maybe most importantly, an offensive line that’s finally started to hold up its end of the bargain.
A big reason for that turnaround? The emergence of rookie left tackle Ozzy Trapilo.
He wasn’t the Bears’ first option at the position - he was actually the third man to get a start there this season - but he quickly proved to be the most reliable. Trapilo brought stability to Williams’ blindside, anchoring an offensive line that had been in flux for far too long.
It looked like Chicago had found their long-term answer at one of the most critical positions in football.
But late in the Bears’ Wild Card comeback win over the Packers, disaster struck. Trapilo went down with a knee injury, and it didn’t take long for the diagnosis to come in: ruptured patellar tendon.
Just like that, his season is over. And with the Rams coming to town for the Divisional Round, the Bears are suddenly facing a major question mark at a position they thought was finally settled.
Next Man Up: Can Theo Benedet Hold the Line?
With Trapilo out, the Bears are expected to turn back to Theo Benedet at left tackle. Benedet, a second-year player, already has some experience this season - he made seven starts when Braxton Jones was benched and then placed on injured reserve. But the results were mixed at best.
Let’s talk numbers: out of 87 qualifying offensive tackles this season, Benedet’s 55.2 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 71st. Compare that to Trapilo’s 70.3 grade, which sits in the middle of the pack at 38th, and the drop-off becomes clear.
In his seven starts, Benedet gave up 22 pressures and two sacks, and he posted a pass-blocking grade under 65.0 in five of those games. That’s not the kind of consistency you want when your season is on the line.
And this week, it’s not just any pass rush coming to town - it’s one of the most relentless in the league.
Jared Verse: The Rams’ X-Factor on Defense
If there’s one player who could single-handedly derail the Bears’ postseason run, it’s Rams edge rusher Jared Verse. The rookie has been a force all season long, and even if his 7.5 sacks don’t leap off the stat sheet, the deeper numbers tell the full story. Verse finished the regular season with 87 total pressures - fifth-most among edge rushers - and a top-15 pass rush win rate (16.8%) among players with at least 120 pass-rush snaps.
Translation: he’s winning his matchups, and he’s doing it often.
According to ESPN’s Matt Bowen, Verse is the “matchup X-factor” for Sunday night’s game - and for good reason. His assignment?
Keep Caleb Williams in the pocket and prevent the second-year quarterback from creating chaos outside of structure. That’s easier said than done, but Verse has the speed, power, and discipline to pull it off - especially if he’s lined up across from a struggling left tackle like Benedet.
What the Bears Can Do to Offset the Matchup
This isn’t a matchup Chicago can ignore. Expect the Bears to give Benedet plenty of help - whether that’s chipping with tight ends, sliding protection his way, or scheming quicker releases for Williams. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will need to be sharp with his play-calling to keep Verse from living in the backfield.
But even with adjustments, there’s no hiding a weak link in the playoffs. The Rams have been one of the league’s best at generating pressure, and with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line, they’ll be looking to exploit any vulnerability up front.
The Bottom Line
The Bears have come a long way this season. Caleb Williams has matured, the offense has clicked, and the team has shown real resilience. But losing Trapilo is a gut punch - and it comes at the worst possible time.
If Chicago wants to keep its playoff run alive, they’ll need to find a way to neutralize Jared Verse and protect their franchise quarterback. Because in a game this big, sometimes it only takes one mismatch to swing everything.