The Chicago Bears looked like they had everything set last season. In a succession of just three draft picks, it felt like they’d landed starters at tight end, wide receiver, and left tackle. Colston Loveland turned into a stud almost immediately. Luther Burden didn’t take long to follow his lead. The last to get his opportunity was Ozzy Trapilo. After a frustrating false start in training camp that saw him benched in the left tackle competition, the 2nd round pick from Boston College got his opportunity midway through 2025.
Things went well. Trapilo played with growing confidence each passing week, showing he could be that blindside protector the Bears needed. Sadly, just as things were taking off, the rookie tore the patella tendon in his knee during the wild card game against Green Bay. Not only was he done for the season, but further exams indicated there was a possibility he could miss all of 2026, forcing the Bears to seek alternatives at left tackle.
Thankfully, it appears progress has been made. Trapilo was spotted back at Halas Hall working out. While it doesn’t mean he’s ahead of schedule, this suggests his recovery is going well.
Ozzy Trapilo getting back during 2026 would be a major victory.
The injury was such a blow because the Bears had spent months rotating through left tackles looking for somebody they could trust. Then, when Trapilo finally seems to have done so, he gets hurt. It was a brutal setback for both the player and the team. Optimism was hard to come by. Patella injuries are nasty. They can end careers far more often than ACL issues. The team couldn’t be sure how the surgery would go and if the rehab process would progress without complications.
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It appears good fortune has smiled upon the young tackle. Former Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel stated recently that if things are on schedule, Ozzy Trapilo should only miss up to eight weeks of the regular season. A big tell from the video is no brace on his knee. That means there is no lingering pain or structural issues. If that holds true, the prognosis is correct. Trapilo could be back by midseason. There is no question that this is probably his big objective.
Trapilo isn’t ignorant of the short window he’s in.
The Bears chose not to heavily pursue left tackle options this offseason because they still have high hopes for him. However, this is the NFL. It stands for Not For Long if you don’t present yourself as reliable, both in on-field play and durability. The longer Trapilo is out, the greater the odds that somebody steps up and secures that left tackle spot. Braxton Jones will get another crack at it this summer. Former 1st round pick Jedrick Wills also hopes to get his career back on track after his own injury problems in Cleveland.
If whoever wins the job in training camp ends up playing really well, Trapilo could be in danger of losing his spot before he even returns. That is probably why he is working so hard to get back sooner. He’s not ignorant of reality. The Bears never promised him the job. They’re willing to leave the window open, but this isn’t a case of a team keeping the seat warm for a former top 10 pick. Trapilo was a 2nd rounder. That comes with far less job security in this league.
