Ozzy Trapilo’s recovery is turning into one of the most encouraging developments in Bears camp, and it’s happening far earlier than anyone expected.
The young tackle was supposed to be a long shot to contribute anytime soon after suffering a season-ending torn patellar tendon late last season. Instead, he’s already back in team drills and wearing pads, a sign that his rehab has moved well beyond the original projections. There’s still no official timetable for a return, but the fact that he’s this involved this early says plenty.
That matters in Chicago, where blindside protection has been a constant issue. The Bears spent the offseason trying to make sure Caleb Williams wasn’t left taking the kind of punishment he absorbed as a rookie, and the offensive line was a major point of emphasis heading into the first year of the Ben Johnson era.
General manager Ryan Poles sounded genuinely upbeat about where Trapilo stands now.
“There’s definitely rust to knock off,” Poles said, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. “I don’t know how long that’ll take before he’s involved with the gameplan and starting or a rotational guy or active.
It’s too early to tell right now... In helmets, or not even helmets, it looks fabulous, or he wouldn’t be where he is.”
Trapilo’s progress is even more notable because he avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list. Had he landed there, he would’ve missed at least the first month of the season. Instead, he’s currently listed as Braxton Jones’ backup, which at minimum keeps the door open for an earlier-than-expected return.
That competition is worth watching closely. Jones was uneven last season, and Trapilo eventually won the starting job before the injury changed everything.
Since then, the Bears have kept looking for answers at left tackle. Even Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie got chances to work their way into the spot while Trapilo was sidelined.
Jones also struggled through training camp and the preseason, which only adds to the sense that Trapilo could change the picture quickly once he’s ready. Still, the Bears aren’t treating this like a race. He’s already outperformed every expectation tied to his rehab, but there’s no reason to pin a Week 1, Week 2, or any other date on him just yet.
What is clear is that Trapilo is moving in the right direction, and Chicago will be ready to put him back on the field as soon as he’s healthy enough to take back the job.
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