One of the hardest things to measure about a player when it comes to sports is how much it matters to them. All of them will say football is everything to them. The majority think they’re telling the truth but aren’t. Some see the game as the easiest way to make a living. Most don’t have a true love of the game. It doesn’t matter to them. Justin Fields has said he will do anything to be great at football many times. That is reflected in how he works on and off the field. It is becoming apparent the same can be said of Braxton Jones.
The rookie left tackle is by far the biggest surprise of 2022. He was an afterthought when the Bears drafted him in the 5th round. He went from that to their starter by training camp and has played every game since. He’d been performing quite well in recent weeks too. That ended badly in Detroit, where the Lions abused him for much of the afternoon. Fellow rookie James Houston beat him repeatedly, often with a bull rush. It was another reminder of Jones’ one glaring weakness. Sean Hammond of Shaw Local said the young tackle didn’t take what happened well.
That was reflected in what happened after the final whistle.
The game ended and the field flooded with Bears and Lions players shaking hands. Bears rookie left tackle Braxton Jones wasn’t among them. He stayed near the bench for a few moments longer, sitting on a Gatorade bucket, contemplating what had been a tough afternoon…
…“[I was] just kind of reflecting on the game,” Jones said. “I didn’t do so well. Just have to play four quarters, not one quarter. Just thinking about where I went wrong, where I can execute better. Better pad level. Better pass [protection]. Just all that stuff. I’m not going to sit here and think about it too long, but just reflecting a little bit.”
Braxton Jones gives a damn. That is why he’ll succeed.
Games like this are inevitable for rookies. It is surprising he hasn’t had more of them. That is a testament to the work he’s put in all year. Having a tough game happens to everybody. The fact he took it so hard is a good thing. That shows how much he loves football and wants to be great. This isn’t a job to him. It’s his life. Expect him to hit the off-season with a purpose. Nobody should be shocked if he shows up to training camp next July in far better shape and far better prepared.
It is a safe assumption Braxton Jones has done enough to earn the left tackle job for another year. The Bears will likely focus elsewhere up front, such as right tackle and center. Left guard might be a possibility too. Tons of work is needed. Don’t expect the coaches to go easy on him. The standard remains high. He knows that. They will expect improvement from him. That goes for everybody else. What happened in 2022 may have been expected, but it won’t be tolerated in 2023.
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