The Chicago Bears are facing a high-stakes decision heading into their divisional round clash with the Los Angeles Rams, and head coach Ben Johnson is making a bold move that speaks volumes about his priorities: protecting his quarterback and giving the offense a fighting chance.
In a surprising twist, the Bears are preparing to shift All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to left tackle-a position he hasn’t played full-time since a brief stint in Kansas City. The assumption heading into the week was that rookie Theo Benedet would step in for the injured Ozzy Trapilo, just as he had during the regular season. But Johnson, known for his methodical approach and calculated decision-making, clearly saw something on tape that changed the equation.
Let’s break it down.
The Rams bring one of the most disruptive pass rushes in the league, and the Bears know it. Jared Verse, who finished fifth in the NFL with 87 quarterback pressures this season, is a game-wrecker off the edge.
That’s the kind of presence that can tilt a playoff game in a matter of snaps. And unfortunately for Chicago, Benedet hasn’t exactly inspired confidence in pass protection.
We saw it firsthand in the regular-season finale against the Lions. Benedet started at left tackle in that game, and while the stat sheet only shows one sack, the real story was Aidan Hutchinson living in the Bears’ backfield.
Hutchinson racked up eight pressures, consistently beating Benedet-even when the rookie was given help. The offense was shut out for three quarters, and the pressure on Williams was a big part of that.
So Johnson had a choice: roll the dice with Benedet again and risk his quarterback taking a beating, or make a gutsy adjustment to shore up the blind side. He chose the latter.
Now, let’s be clear-moving Thuney out of his natural guard spot isn’t ideal. He’s one of the best in the league at what he does, and shifting him to tackle is a trade-off.
But Johnson isn’t doing this because he wants to; he’s doing it because he has to. Thuney may not be an elite tackle, but he’s a significantly better pass protector than Benedet.
And that matters when you’re facing a front like L.A.'s.
Thuney has been here before. When Kansas City asked him to play tackle last year, the results were mixed-but not disastrous.
He had two rough outings, including the Super Bowl, but outside of those, he allowed just seven pressures in five games. That’s not shutdown-level play, but it’s more than serviceable-especially when the alternative is a rookie struggling to keep his quarterback upright.
This isn’t about finding the perfect solution. The Trapilo injury took that off the table.
This is about damage control, about giving the Bears the best chance to stay competitive against a team that can collapse a pocket in seconds. Johnson knows that if he has to scheme around his left tackle every snap, the offense becomes one-dimensional-and against a defense like the Rams’, that’s a recipe for disaster.
So while it’s a risk to move Thuney outside, it’s a calculated one. Johnson is betting that his veteran’s experience and technique can hold up just long enough to keep the offense on schedule. And in a playoff game where every possession counts, that might be the difference between moving on and going home.
Bottom line: the Bears are adapting under pressure, and Johnson is showing he’s not afraid to make tough calls. Whether it pays off remains to be seen-but one thing’s certain: he’s not leaving anything to chance.