Caleb Williams has received unexpected assistance from Joe Flacco after the veteran offered to cover the Chicago Bears quarterback's fine related to his footwear choice.

Williams only recently came back from a grade 2 hamstring tear he suffered in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 20, which kept him out for three consecutive games under Ben Johnson's leadership.

The 24-year-old made his comeback for the Week 6 clash against the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 18, before taking the field again just four days later against the New England Patriots, contributing to Bears victories in both contests as they reached 5-2 for the season.

Williams delivered an impressive performance on Thursday Night Football against the Patriots, recording his second straight 300-yard passing performance with 308 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. However, the NFL penalized him for sporting specialized "science cleats" manufactured by independent brand Caddix.

The footwear is engineered specifically to maintain his lower body health and reduce stress on his joints and tendons. But since they are made by Caddix, rather than one of the brands with exclusive footwear agreements with the NFL, such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor, Williams faced financial penalties.

He received two sanctions: an $11,941 uniform violation fine following the Falcons game, which subsequently increased to $23,882 after he wore them once more against the Patriots. Williams doesn't hold a sponsorship agreement with Caddix and purchases the cleats with his own money.

Nevertheless, company founder Jack Rasmussen has publicly announced they'll happily pay all his NFL fines so he can keep putting his health first - and Williams plans to keep wearing them.

On Friday, Flacco volunteered to cover Williams' fines personally. The former Super Bowl winner started wearing the cleats in 2024, and serves as an investor and advisor to Caddix.

"If Caleb gets fined again for wearing Caddix, I'll pay the fine myself," Flacco said. "I've worn these cleats for years, and I know firsthand the difference they make. When you're playing at this level, you need equipment you can trust.

"This isn't about making a statement or breaking the rules just to break them. It's about wearing gear that works for you and helps keep you safe on the field. If Caleb believes in Caddix the way I do, I'm happy to stand behind him."

Williams plans to continue wearing the cleats. Speaking before Chicago's upcoming matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, Williams clearly indicated that the increasing fines are worthwhile as he places his performance and safety above league regulations.

"They are a science-type of cleat. It's something that focuses on when you plant on the hard parts on turf or grass; they call them SmartStuds, and they move when you move," Williams told reporters. "They take tension off of your tendons, your joints, and all of that.

"Over the course of a long career, when you take some percentage off consistently, you get to have a higher chance of being healthy, and that's what I focus on."