The Chicago Bears have been trying to get the left tackle situation settled for almost two months. It was hoped that a competition held in training camp might provide clarity. Unfortunately, all it showed was that they lacked any definitive solution. Ozzy Trapilo wasn’t ready. Kiran Amegadjie can’t stay healthy. Theo Benedet has length issues. As a result, head coach Ben Johnson went with the safest option of keeping Braxton Jones in place as the starter.
That decision doesn’t seem to sit well. Johnson made it clear at his latest press conference that he’s not overly happy with Jones’ performance over the first two weeks of the season.
While understandable, it leads to the obvious question. What can Johnson do?
Here is where things get interesting. You’d have to follow the breadcrumbs a bit to get an idea of what he might be planning. Start with his comments about right tackle Darnell Wright, who’s off to a great start this season despite some penalty issues. Johnson admitted the former 1st round pick is a caliber of athlete you don’t see much.
Here is where it gets interesting. Johnson was also asked about the status of rookie Ozzy Trapilo. After a strong start to training camp, the 2nd round pick seemed to fade and was eventually removed from the left tackle competition. Johnson explained that the coaches felt he wasn’t quite ready yet. However, he’s made considerable strides since then and could see game action soon.
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Is Ben Johnson planning to shift Darnell Wright to left tackle?
This is something people have speculated about off and on since he was drafted 10th overall in 2023. Most saw him as a pure right tackle coming into the NFL. However, he had enough athleticism to at least warrant a conversation about trying him on the left side. With how rough the situation is with Jones (13 pressures allowed in two games), Ben Johnson might be more open to the idea than ever.
The obvious holdup is that if the Bears do that, it opens a significant void on the right side. That is where the Trapilo comments come in. Johnson stated it looks like the rookie will see the field soon. The problem is where? He already lost to Jones in the left tackle battle. The only other spot is right tackle, which he played throughout most of college. He was never going to unseat Wright there.
That is, unless Wright were to move to the opposite side. It isn’t a perfect solution, but it might be their best. It puts Chicago’s best blocker at the most important spot on the offensive line and allows Trapilo to play his natural position.
