Former NFL QB explains why Caleb Williams' viral throw isn’t that bad

Caleb Williams is facing a lot of criticism after the Chicago Bears’ Week 1 loss, and one former quarterback is coming to Williams’ defense.
Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings v Chicago Bears | Patrick McDermott/GettyImages

The Chicago Bears suffered a devastating loss in Week 1 of the season, and Caleb Williams delivered the kind of performance that fuels all of the narratives surrounding him. He made enough elite throws for his supporters to point to as a sign that he will be special, and he had enough misses for critics to remain loud. Naturally, it’s the criticism receiving the most attention, especially since the Bears lost.

One play by Williams that has received a lot of negative attention is an overthrow to D.J. Moore. The wide receiver was running wide open, headed to the end zone, and Williams sailed the throw out of bounds. People were left asking how could he miss such an easy throw. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick answered that question, while arguing the throw wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

Fitzpatrick took to social media to explain that Moore was actually supposed to be running a corner route. However, the receiver just kept running up field, abandoning his actual route. That led to Williams double clutching before trying to connect with Moore, who had adlibed his route according to Fitzpatrick. The former quarterback also argued that Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are probably the only two quarterbacks in the league who would’ve made that throw.

Ryan Fitzpatrick defends Caleb Williams and explains his viral missed throw

Fitzpatrick’s explanation is a reminder of the complexities of football and that things aren’t always what they seem. If the former quarterback’s breakdown is correct, this is something the Bears need to fix. Either Moore needs to run the right routes, or he and Williams need to get on the same page so they can both adjust on the fly and still be in sync.

Read more: Ben Johnson throws Cairo Santos under the bus after Bears Week 1 loss

Either way, it’s just one game of a long season, and Chicago has time to get things together. Hopefully, that will actually happen sooner rather than later.