Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Bears safety Kevin Byard was covering Keenan Allen on a wheel route up the left sideline earlier this month when he had a decision to make. Quarterback Caleb Williams had floated a ball into the end zone that was arcing toward Allen’s hands in the corner of the end zone.
Byard did the calculus quickly: the Bears weren’t in pads and fighting for the ball would have wound up with both players hitting ground. Plus, Byard and Allen are veterans merely tuning up for the season.