When Ben Johnson took the reins as head coach of the Chicago Bears, one of the clearest priorities was shoring up the offensive line. That mission wasn’t just lip service-it translated into real progress on the field. And as the season unfolded, a potential long-term answer at one of the most critical positions in football quietly began to emerge.
That answer came in the form of rookie left tackle Ozzie Trapilo. Thrust into action late in the season, Trapilo didn’t just hold his own-he showed flashes of being a foundational piece for the Bears up front.
But just as the momentum was building, the Bears’ playoff win over the Packers brought a brutal twist: Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. Now, instead of building on a promising start, he’s staring down a lengthy rehab and is expected to miss a significant portion of next season.
That injury has shifted the Bears’ offseason calculus. With Trapilo on the shelf, Chicago is likely to explore the left tackle market-and it sounds like free agency is the more probable route than rolling the dice on a rookie.
Still, Trapilo remains the long-term vision at the position. His injury is more of a detour than a dead end, but it does create a pressing short-term need.
Could Braxton Jones Be the Bridge?
One name that’s resurfacing in the conversation is a familiar one: Braxton Jones. The veteran tackle didn’t have the kind of season he was hoping for-especially in a contract year-but there’s a case to be made for a Bears reunion.
Jones’ 2025 campaign was derailed before it ever really got going. After working his way back from a fractured ankle, he pushed hard to be ready for training camp.
But the grind took its toll. He never quite looked like himself, and by Week 4, he was benched before halftime in Las Vegas.
A minor knee injury during practice in October only made things worse, landing him on injured reserve until the postseason.
This current coaching staff, including Johnson, hasn’t seen Jones at full health. That’s a key point.
When healthy, Jones has been a solid contributor. In fact, he earned a top-25 overall grade among offensive tackles from Pro Football Focus in two of his first three seasons.
That’s not elite territory, but it’s certainly serviceable-especially for a team looking for a stopgap solution.
The idea of bringing Jones back on a one-year deal makes a lot of sense. For the Bears, it’s a low-risk move to bridge the gap until Trapilo returns. For Jones, it’s a shot at redemption-a chance to prove he’s still a starting-caliber tackle when fully healthy, and to reset his market value before free agency in 2027.
At one point, it looked like Jones’ time in Chicago was all but over. But with 44 career starts under his belt and a working knowledge of the team’s system, he’s more than just a familiar face-he’s a viable option.
The Bears don’t need a long-term fix at left tackle this offseason. They need a reliable placeholder.
And if Jones can stay healthy, he might just be the right man for the job.