Caleb Williams Fined Again for Caddix Cleats

Caleb Williams is not budging on his cleats, and the NFL is not budging on the fines. The league fined the Chicago Bears quarterback $23,882 for wearing Caddix cleats in Week 7, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday, double the $11,941 he was fined for the same shoes in Week 6.

So why does this matter beyond a dollar figure? Because Williams told ESPN on Wednesday he does not plan to cover the Caddix logo for Monday night's game at Seattle, which means the fines are probably going to keep stacking. Only Nike, Adidas and Under Armour have partnerships with the league, and any other brand has to have its logo covered. Williams has already appealed the Week 6 fine, and Caddix has said it will pay if he loses.

Why Williams Wants These Cleats

This is not a sneaker deal stunt, at least not the way Williams tells it. Caddix is built around "SmartStuds" that are designed to flex and release when a player plants and cuts, cutting down the twisting force that runs up into the knees and ankles. Williams said his joints have not bothered him as much since he switched.

"I'm huge into my body," Williams said. "I'm huge into trying to stay on the field. I'm huge into trying to be healthy." He called them "science cleats" and said they have been working for him.

Caddix founder Jack Rasmussen was just as blunt in a statement to ESPN: "Regardless if this is a marketing fine or not, I'm happy to pay it." Williams is one of an estimated 40 players around the league wearing the brand.

The Bears Are Rolling With Him

Honestly, it is hard to argue with the results. Williams missed Weeks 3 through 5 with a hamstring injury, and since coming back he has gone for 305 yards against Atlanta and 308 against New England, both wins. That made him the first Bears quarterback since Mitchell Trubisky in 2018 with back-to-back 300-yard passing games.

Chicago is 5-2 heading into Monday night at Lumen Field against the 4-3 Seahawks. If a guy coming off a hamstring problem feels healthier in a certain shoe, most Bears fans will happily let Caddix cover the bill.

Smacktok Pick Lean

We lean higher on Williams' passing yards Monday in Seattle. He is healthy, he has two straight 300-yard games since returning, and the Bears have had extra rest since beating New England on Oct. 22. Seattle's defense is the real test, but the arm and the cleats are both staying on.