From the sound of things, it appears Garrett Bradbury is the current favorite for the starting center job on the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line. Head coach Ben Johnson has been ecstatic with his communication skills and overall consistency. Rookie Logan Jones has work to do to change that. The same can’t be said about the team’s left tackle situation. Four different players are battling for that coveted spot. Incumbent Braxton Jones feels like the favorite, but he’s being challenged once again by Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie. However, his biggest threat could be Jedrick Wills.
Chicago signed the former 10th overall pick this offseason after his departure from the Cleveland Browns. Wills had a promising start to his NFL career after dominating for Alabama. Then injuries and, according to some, a crisis of confidence struck. Wills missed most of the past two seasons dealing with a severe knee issue. He saw the Bears as a good opportunity to reestablish himself. Based on Johnson’s recent comments before Monday’s practice, the 27-year-old hasn’t disappointed.
Jedrick Wills hasn’t shown any mental concerns.
“Well, I know Alabama, Cleveland, before he got hurt, that he was a very powerful player. And so it’s hard to say that yet. Hopefully we’ll see over the course of the next few days, next couple weeks, if that continues to be the case. He hadn’t played football in a while, and so you’re a little bit like, ‘Where’s the confidence level at?‘ From what we’ve seen the last four days, it’s been pretty good. It’s been a good start.
Like I said, Braxton’s been great. Jed’s firmly in the mix. ‘Ran (Amegadjie) got some reps with the ones. I think Theo’s worth mentioning as well. I mean, I think we got a really good group of guys that continue to ascend to get better. So hopefully it’s a really difficult decision for us.”
Wills’ biggest test is at hand.
You can only do so much in shorts during practice. The Bears had pads on for the first time on Monday. That meant it was full contact. It would be the first real test of that rebuilt knee since he injured it in 2024. Can Wills still generate the necessary power that made him a star in college? Can he still move with fluidity for someone his size? It sounds like the Bears are seeing glimpses of what they hoped for. If he takes the offensive system well over the next four weeks, he might be the actual favorite to win the job.
If all things are equal in a roster battle, teams tend to go with the most talented player. Jedrick Wills is certainly that as a former 1st round pick. Draft experts saw him as a future Pro Bowler. It didn’t work out in Cleveland, but he’s landed in a great situation. Johnson is known for getting the best out of his blockers, as is Dan Roushar, the team’s offensive line coach. It probably wasn’t an accident Wills chose Chicago. He recognized that they had the setup he needed to get his career back on track.
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The Bears have been consistent with their reps thus far.
Jones and Wills have gotten considerable work with the starting offense. Amegadjie got a day as well. That rotation figures to continue for at least the next couple of weeks. Johnson and Roushar have shown they will not declare a winner easily. They will carry a competition all the way to the season if they have to. It happened at left tackle last year. No decision will be made until someone steps up and seizes the job. The best thing to do is keep an eye on August 15th. That is the date of the Bears’ first preseason game.
Whoever starts that game can safely be considered the leader for the job. Jones got that nod last year. He ended up starting on opening day. That gives Wills just under two weeks to stake his claim. The Bears won’t give him a grace period. If he wants to prove he belongs, he must earn it. There won’t be any favoritism here like there was at Alabama as a highly recruited prospect or in Cleveland as a 1st round pick. He is starting from square one. There is no time to waste.
