The Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have several roster battles to sort through in the next few weeks as training camp unfolds. Yet nobody would argue that left tackle is the most important. It is the most critical position on offense that isn’t the quarterback. It was also the most unsettled last season.
Braxton Jones started 2025 but was clearly not healthy. He was replaced by Theo Benedet, the former undrafted free agent who’d surprised in camp. After some encouraging games, his problems in pass protection saw him benched for rookie Ozzy Trapilo. It looked like the 2nd round pick was rounding into form, then he injured his knee in the playoffs. That forced the Bears to go with Joe Thuney in an emergency role in the divisional round.
Fast forward a few months, and it feels like the movie is about to repeat. Almost all of the same names are planning to battle for the job once again. Trapilo will not because of his knee recovery, but former 1st round pick Jedrick Wills was signed to add a fresh face to the mix. Still, most believe this is probably Jones’ job to lose.
Not according to Poles.
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“We’ve got Braxton at a really good spot, probably the healthiest he’s been since his first year,” Poles said. “He’s got a lot of snaps under his belt. Theo has done a great job. We see what he’s done with his body this offseason, and he just continues to get bigger, stronger, faster to understand what we’re trying to do.
“I was really encouraged by Jedrick Wills and his progress that he’s made, and he’s put over double-digit lean mass on his body, which is something we were looking forward to as he gets back to what he was.”
Ryan Poles doesn’t seem convinced there is a clear favorite.
All three players spent the offseason working with former All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead. He was an understudy to Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar, so it was likely a great education in the fundamentals and hard work necessary to play at a high level. Each man arrived at camp in great shape, which is always a good sign. It is particularly true for Wills, who battled conditioning issues in Cleveland. This signals that all of them are going into this with a green light to practice as if the job is wide open.
Much of this will hinge on Trapilo’s outlook. Initially, there was skepticism that the young tackle would return this season. Patellar tendon injuries are tricky to heal from, especially for bigger athletes. However, recent evidence suggests his recovery is ahead of schedule. He’s already back working out and wasn’t wearing a knee brace in the limited footage. That is a good sign. While returning for the opener is out of the question, it’s possible he could be back by midseason. If this is true, the Bears may opt to go with whoever they believe helps them the most through the first six or seven games.
Flash won’t win this battle.
Getting a pancake block on a run play or a strong one-on-one rep in pass protection is great for the video packages. It won’t be what Johnson and Roushar look at once the time for a decision comes. They’ll be looking at the player who is the most consistent from snap to snap. They need someone who can survive on their own without constant help. Usually, that is the most technically sound one. None of Jones, Benedet, or Wills showed enough of that last season. That must be their focus over the next five weeks.
Much of this comes down to who utilizes their advantage best. Jones is the most experienced in terms of total starts. Benedet is probably their best run-blocker. Wills is the most talented overall. Can Jones stay healthy for a full camp? Can Benedet show any progress in pass protection? Can Wills iron out some of the fundamental issues that hampered him in Cleveland? Answers to these questions are forthcoming. Ryan Poles will wait to see if other moves are required.
