The Chicago Bears are entering their game prep for Week 1 with uncertainty on the roster. The Bears had a few battles in training camp (QB2 and CB2), but none have been more important than finding the guy who will protect Caleb Williams’ blindside.
During an interview with Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune, general manager Ryan Poles explained why the Bears are having a challenging time finding a starting left tackle before their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8.
The Chicago Bears have a challenge
Chicago Bears Kiran Amegadjie at rookie minicamp – Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
“They’re all on different planes, and that’s been the most challenging part of it,” Poles said of the four-way race this summer. “So you have Braxton (Jones), and you’re trying to evaluate a guy that’s coming back from a pretty significant injury. And then looking at last year’s tape as kind of the bar, can he get to that point and better? But he’s not quite there yet. He’s closing in on it.
“But then the person he’s competing with (Ozzy Trapilo) is a person that’s never played in the league versus Kiran (Amegadjie), who didn’t have his first year, coming from a smaller school (Amegadjie missed most of the 2024 offseason after an injury at Yale). And then Theo (Benedet) enters the conversation, who from a length standpoint may not have everything but from a foot speed and toughness (standpoint) has a lot of things that you like.”
Braxton Jones makes the most sense for Week 1
Bears Braxton Jones blocking against the Falcons – Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Poles and head coach Ben Johnson are still hoping that one of those four will “take the job” before they play the Vikings. But Chicago is running out of time to name a starter at one of the most important positions on the team.
Issues at left tackle didn’t make life easy for Williams in his rookie season. That issue doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon in Year 2.
Jones is the Bears’ best option to start against the Vikings. Trapilo is better suited at right tackle, a position that 2023 first-round pick Darnell Wright will claim. The Bears kicked Amegadjie to guard last week because he seems more comfortable there than at right or left tackle. Benedet is more of a project.
Ozzy Trapilo will be battling Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie for the left tackle job – Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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