Training camp will feature plenty of roster battles for the Chicago Bears. Yet none will be more important to their immediate future than the one at left tackle. Ozzy Trapilo, their promising 2nd round pick from last year, tore up his knee against Green Bay in the playoffs. There is a belief he may miss the entire season. The Bears didn’t draft any replacements. That means the job comes down to two likely contenders. One is incumbent Braxton Jones, and the other is former 1st round pick Jedrick Wills.
It isn’t difficult to see why the team went this direction. Both players have considerable starting experience, are still on the younger side, and have enough physical tools to function well in this offense. They also clearly believe Trapilo has a chance to return 100% healthy down the line. Now the task ahead is clear. Get both players onto the field in training camp and let them battle it out. Who will come out on top? Let’s explore what each brings to the table and who has the best chance.
Why Braxton Jones could win
Prior to the injury that ended his 2024 season, Jones had a case for being the best offensive lineman the Bears had. While not a dominant force, he was plenty reliable. His pass protection was decent and he was a positive factor in the running game. Sadly, injuries have been the story of his career after his rookie season. He missed six games in 2023 with a neck problem, broke his leg in 2024, and never looked healthy after rushing back from that last season.
| Season | Pressures Allowed | Total Offensive Snaps | Games Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 40 | 1,034 | 17 |
| 2023 | 32 | 722 | 11 |
| 2024 | 26 | 719 | 12 |
| 2025 | 15 | 210 | 6 |
The good news is that Jones has had more than enough time to get his body healthy. Sometimes all a player needs is an adequate rest period to let injuries heal. After months of not playing, every indication is that he’s 100% for the first time in a long while. If the Bears can get the early version of him pre-neck issues, then they’re getting a quality starter. Word is he arrived at Halas Hall in excellent shape, with Johnson even saying he was “yoked up.” That feels like a positive sign.
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Why Jedrick Wills could win
Expectations were sky high for Wills coming out of Alabama when Cleveland took him 10th overall. Everybody saw a big, powerful, and athletic blocker who would anchor any offensive line for a decade. Things started out well. Wills was above average in his first two seasons. Then everything went sideways. His play regressed badly in 2023 and then a series of brutal injuries struck in 2024. It got so bad that he was forced to have surgery to realign his knee, causing him to miss all of last season.
Some in Cleveland wondered if he’d lost his love of the game. They started noticing his energy and effort were dipping. The commitment to get better had died. Maybe so, but would Wills have bothered returning in 2026 if that were the case? Probably not. He’s healthy now and still only 26 years old. He was a dominant force in college and might be a perfect situation under offensive line coach Dan Roushar. If he brings the necessary work ethic to the table, the ceiling is considerably higher than Jones.
“Wills is one of the most impressive tackles in the draft; he has basketball-caliber foot quickness and the quick hands of a boxer, and all of it is wrapped in a stout, powerful package of bad intentions. His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is good starter to All-Pro.”
The winner: Jones
There are a few factors that go into this. For one, Braxton Jones already has experience in this offense. He started four games in it before he was benched last season. That prior knowledge can’t be understated. He already knows the protections and responsibilities required of him. Wills must spend most of the spring and summer catching up. Then there is Roushar. The Bears’ offensive line coach hasn’t been shy about stating his admiration for Jones. He feels the young tackle has loads of capability, but acknowledges the health problems have slowed his progress. It sounds like the coaches remain hopeful he can achieve bigger things, which gives him the inside track.
