The Detroit Lions have been getting shorted in almost every preseason power ranking this offseason as a result of not just letting Aaron Glenn walk for the New York Jets' head coaching vacancy, but for letting Ben Johnson crucially walk for the Chicago Bears' head coach opening. They'll now not only be facing him twice a year, but in a battle for the NFC North title.
Johnson left to get the opportunity to fix the abysmal offense in Chicago led by then-rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears' logic in hiring Johnson was that, given the structure and success he found with formerly written off signal caller Jared Goff in Detroit, he could probably replicate that success to a degree with Williams in Year 2.
So far, that experiment has not gone to plan in training camp.
Williams-Johnson connection has not formed so far in 2025 training camp
You've likely seen clips on social media of Williams struggling to find his man in drills during training camp, with one particular clip showing the young quarterback beyond frustrated at himself for being unable to hit targets on a net.
A great point previously made by NFL analyst Thor Nystrom also recently made its rounds on social media, with him pointing out when the Bears signed Johnson just how much the laissez-faire style of play for Williams clashed with Johnson's very structured playbook for his quarterbacks and offense.
That point was re-shared by Nystrom in response to a video shared of a radio interview done with ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin, where she says she has concerns about the tandem as she's been observing the two develop a relationship at training camp.
"Some of the same stuff that's plaguing the offense - the delay of games, guys not lining up in the right spot, Caleb's trying to change the call at the last second. If it was day one, install one, like we saw on July 23rd, you chalk it up to, it's the first day of the install, that stuff's gonna happen. It shouldn't, but that stuff's gonna happen. The fact that stuff is still happening, I mean, on the level of 1 to 10 for concern, I don't know, I think you put it at a 4? Because that's the stuff that can hurt you in games. And, it's gonna be a lot louder when they're on the road," said Cronin.
Camp is bound to be messy when you have a second year quarterback with oodles of talent dealing with his third head coach in just one season of NFL play and a brand new system to adhere to. You add in all the noise about this year being a prove it year already for a second year player, and you've got a recipe for disaster if you're Williams and Johnson.
Blocking out that noise is easier said than done, but they'll need to do so in order to find success with what should be an improved roster on paper. Regardless, it seems like the Lions might have nothing to worry about when it comes to Chicago stealing their crown in the north this year.
