Braxton Jones will open the season as the Chicago Bears’ starting left tackle, but the job doesn’t feel settled for long.
The first depth chart ahead of Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers settled the immediate competition between Jones and Theo Benedet, and Jones came out on top, as expected. That answers the short-term question. It doesn’t change the bigger one: how long can the Bears live with Jones there before Ozzy Trapilo is ready to take over?
Trapilo, a second-year pro, is working his way back from injury, and head coach Ben Johnson addressed that timeline when asked about the tackle’s return.
"I can’t say it’s in the near future. I know he’s working his tail off.
It’s been beyond impressive for him to be where he is today. The fact that he’s out there with those guys and he’s strong, he’s flexible, it’s a credit to him.
It’s a credit to guys in the weight room who have been training him. I think we’re headed in the right direction there."
The fact that Trapilo did not begin the season on injured reserve suggests the Bears believe a return could come relatively soon, possibly by Week 4 when Chicago hosts the New York Jets.
Until then, the Bears are stuck with Jones protecting Caleb Williams’ blind side, and that brings its own issues. Jones is a familiar name at this point, and the concerns are just as familiar: the anchor still needs work, and too often he gets pushed back off the line. That’s a problem for any offense, and especially one trying to keep its quarterback upright.
Williams may be part of the answer, too. After dropping weight and getting faster in the offseason, he could be asked to move around more while Jones holds down the spot. That might help in broken-play situations, but it also means more running and more exposure for the quarterback.
The Bears can survive with Jones if they have to. But the cleanest version of this offense is the one with Trapilo at left tackle, not Jones. And if Jones has a rough opener, fans are likely to start eyeing the depth chart even more aggressively.
For now, the Bears are waiting. And they need Trapilo back soon.
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