The Chicago Bears have plenty of roster battles going on as training camp unfolds. Yet nobody can argue the most important is left tackle. All four of the other spots on the offensive line are set. Head coach Ben Johnson must find the best option to guard Caleb Williams’ blindside. It is a three-man race between veteran Braxton Jones, former 3rd round pick Kiran Amegadjie, and rookie 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo. Johnson has said the one who stands out the most in pass protection will likely earn that job.
No decision has been made yet, which isn’t surprising. Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar want to give the players a solid stretch of time with the first-team offense. However, both also know they can’t string this out for too long. At some point, they need to get their starting five guys in place so they can start building chemistry for the coming season. Johnson was asked about it on Tuesday. He indicated a decision could be made before the Bears’ first preseason game on August 10th. That means 12 days.
Ben Johnson isn’t tipping his hand on anything.
All three players have gotten legitimate reps with the starting offense. If he has a favorite, there hasn’t been any sign. Based on reports from various people who have watched practices to this point, it feels like Trapilo is the current favorite. Whether Ben Johnson and the coaches feel that way as well is unknown. They’ve praised the rookie for his surprising maturity and polish. They love his size and mobility. However, they’ve also had great things to say about Jones. Unless Amegadjie really stands out in the next two weeks, it feels like a two-man race between Jones and Trapilo. This may come down to how the rookie looks in pass protection. It was considered the strong part of his game in college. That could prove decisive here.
