5 standout players from the Bears' preseason win over the Bills

The Chicago Bears defeated the Buffalo Bills in dominant fashion, 33-6, to extend their preseason record to 2-0.

The big headline from Saturday’s win was the preseason debut of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who flashed on the field in his first NFL appearance. But after Williams and the starters left the field, there were some standout performances from players lower in the rankings or competing for a spot on the roster.

After a slow start that saw Chicago lead 6-3 at halftime, they burst into action in the second half, scoring 27 points, including 20 unanswered points to finish the game. The Bears’ pass rush was in great style, recording eight sacks, including two players with multiple sacks.

There were several standout players from this win. Here’s who earned game balls in Week 1 of the preseason win over the Bills:

Quarterback Caleb Williams

Sure, Williams only played on two series and didn’t lead the Bears to a touchdown. But Chicago scored on each of its two possessions — both field goals by Cairo Santos. But it wasn’t so much about Williams’ contribution in this game as it was about what he was able to show in the preseason of his rookie season. Williams looked composed, confident and efficient as he directed Shane Waldron’s offense, which included a 12-play, 84-yard run that started at Chicago’s 3-yard line. He also had some notable plays, including a flip screen pass to running back D’Andre Swift for a 42-yard gain and an off-platform throw to tight end Cole Kmet for 26 yards.

DE Austin Booker

Fifth-round rookie Austin Booker has been impressive all summer, and that was on full display against the Bills, where he was an absolute threat. He put together a great performance with five tackles, two tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three QB hits. Booker once again flashed his power and instincts as he attacked the quarterback in a dominating defensive performance. Two of his sacks came on drives, including one on third-and-12 that limited Buffalo to a field goal. Most impressively, Booker made an impact not only against reserves, but also against starters. The Bears have questions at the defensive end position, aside from Montez Sweat, and Booker definitely looks like he could get significant playing time as a rookie.

RB Ian Wheeler

Undrafted rookie Ian Wheeler took full advantage of his opportunities in his preseason debut, accounting for two of Chicago’s four touchdowns on the day. Wheeler’s first point came on a handoff on first-and-goal where he effortlessly ran the ball home. On the ensuing possession, Wheeler was alone on a three-play, 35-yard drive that ended in an 8-yard touchdown that extended the Bears’ lead and put the game out of reach. Wheeler will be looking to prove himself worthy of one of the final spots on the roster, and strong performances like this make him an intriguing prospect.

LB Micah Baskerville

Former undrafted free agent Micah Baskerville had a rough outing in the Hall of Fame Game, but made a huge contribution to the Bears defense in their win over the Bills with the first and only takeaway of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, Baskerville (two tackles) intercepted Bills quarterback Shane Buechele’s ball at Chicago’s 47-yard line and carried it back 53 yards for a touchdown to extend Chicago’s lead to 19-6 and essentially decide the game. With a roster spot up for grabs at linebacker, Baskerville will need to put together strong preseason performances to earn a spot ahead of teammate Amen Ogbongbemiga.

EN Daniel Hardy

The Bears’ pass rush stepped up against the Bills, totaling eight sacks. Daniel Hardy played a key role alongside Booker in pressuring the quarterback. Like Booker, Hardy had 2.5 sacks, five tackles, two tackles for loss and three QB hits. But it’s also about the timing of those sacks. One of Hardy’s sacks came on third-and-15, which stopped Buffalo’s advance and forced them to settle for a field goal. Hardy has a good chance of taking one of the final spots on the Chicago defensive line.