Bears defensive star ejected from practice after hitting Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the much-anticipated debut of rookie sensation quarterback Caleb Williams. After a legendary college career at USC, Williams is ready to finally erase the Bears' quarterback curse and make magic happen with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. At least, he is unless Montez Sweat has anything to say about it.

With Williams sporting the famous non-contact orange jersey, defensive players are well aware of the fact that any touching of No. 18 is not allowed. Sweat apparently didn't get the memo, as he bumped into Williams several times, even making contact with the quarterback's arm.

This was the second practice in a row where Sweat and Williams bumped into one another, which was enough for Chicago's coaching staff. Sweat was removed from practice and told to sit the rest of the day out, which had to be embarrassing for a player of his status.

"No, he knows he should not do that," said head coach Matt Eberflus. "I threw him out of the drill today. Then I pulled him aside and I said, 'Look, you cannot do that. You'd be sick if something happens. OK?'

Chicago Bears DE Montez Sweat removed from practice after touching Caleb Williams

Sweat was so good last season that he led both the Bears and Commanders in sacks. After being traded to the Bears at the deadline for a package headlined by a second-round pick, Sweat signed a four-year contract worth $98 million with $72 million in guarantees.

While the performance of Williams will inevitably be what determines how successful the Bears will be this season, Sweat may be the second-most important player on this roster. The defensive line is clearly the weakest unit on Eberflus' unit, and Sweat will be tasked with being the leader in this group.

Having aggression is all well and good, as that same aggression is the main reason Sweat is a cornerstone of the Bears' plans. However, Williams has that orange jersey on. Breathing on him should be considered offensive at this stage, as Chicago needs him ready for primetime.

Hopefully, Sweat gets the message after his brief stint in the hypothetical timeout corner. Turning the intensity down just a notch before the chips are well and truly down in the regular season might be the best course of action for everyone involved here. The last thing the Bears need is something to happen to Williams.