The Chicago Bears haven’t had a top 10 left tackle in the league since Jimbo Covert retired. Since then, they have navigated stormy waters with a mix of solid veteran free agents, failed 1st-round picks, surprise late-round picks, and nobodies thrust into the job. It was hoped they’d finally found their guy last season with 2nd-round pick Ozzy Trapilo. Then he tore up his knee in the playoffs. So once again, the Bears were back to experimenting. That is how they came back around to Theo Benedet.

If nothing else, he is a great story. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he was a top prospect for University of British Columbia. He became a 2nd-round pick in the CFL draft, where he had a surefire career as a starter waiting for him in the Canadian league. Instead, he gambled by participating in the East-West Shrine Bowl, chasing his dream of playing in the NFL. That is how the Bears became aware of him, signing the kid to an undrafted contract. After two years of not playing much, he got his first big opportunity last season under head coach Ben Johnson. It was a mixed bag.

Theo Benedet proved a good run-blocker but weak in pass protection.

He allowed 26 pressures in just 334 snaps, including 8 starts. His 92.2% pass-blocking efficiency rating ranked 66th out of 90 qualifying tackles in the NFL. Not great. That said, things may have turned a corner for him in the past five weeks.

• at GB – 3 pressures and a sack allowed (49 snaps)
• at ATL – 1 pressure allowed (36 snaps)
• vs. NE – 2 pressures allowed (29 snaps)
• at SEA – 3 pressures allowed (37 snaps)
• vs. TB – 2 pressures allowed (41 snaps)
• 8 pressures and 1 sack allowed in 96 true pass sets where he was one-on-one with no help

Remember, Theo Benedet allowed 26 pressures in 334 snaps last season. Through the last five games, he’s allowed 11 pressures in 192 snaps. That works out to a 94.27% pass-blocking efficiency—a considerable improvement from last year. One must also remember the context. He has faced some really good defenses during that stretch, including New England, Seattle, and Tampa Bay in the past three weeks. He allowed 7 pressures and no sacks.

This is such a collective job well done by the Bears.

Please understand that this doesn’t mean Benedet has magically transformed into another Trent Williams. He still has his limitations as a player. The key here is that he’s managed to clean up a lot of the minor details that dogged him last season. His efficiency is better. There are fewer mental mistakes. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar has been masterful in helping him reach this point, proving again that he is one of the best in football. Then you have head coach Ben Johnson, always making sure never to leave Benedet on an island too often, sending him help with tight ends and chip blocks from running backs.

Much of the credit must go to the man himself. Benedet was effectively benched last season. Rather than take over for the injured Trapilo in the playoffs, the Bears chose to slide Joe Thuney to left tackle instead. It would’ve been easy to get discouraged by something like that. Instead, Benedet got back to work this summer and improved his game. A good story has become a great one.

It’s been two games, and already Jeffery Simmons has been well worth the price the Chicago Bears paid. In two consecutive games against two really good offensive lines, he wreaked havoc. He sacked both Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield and made life miserable for opposing guards and centers in the run game. Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a proper showcase of everything he can do, be it rushing the passer, stopping the run, or just talking an incredible amount of trash.

Most of the highlights involved him mixing it up with Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke, who complained about Simmons’ tactics after the game. However, that probably wasn’t his favorite moment. That came late in the 2nd quarter. With 1:09 to go, Simmons zeroed in on right guard Cody Mauch, shouting to block him straight up. Sure enough, Mauch did exactly that. Simmons proceeded to get under his left arm and threw him to the turf one-handed. Fortunately for Mayfield, the play call was a quick pass to the left. Otherwise, Simmons might’ve killed him.

Jeffery Simmons didn’t do that on the spur of the moment.

It felt somewhat odd that he’d decide to single out Mauch like that for no reason. It’s not like they have a history, right? They didn’t play in the same division, meaning they rarely ever saw each other. Well, that isn’t necessarily true. Simmons has a history with Mauch that goes all the way back to August of last year. The Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans held a joint practice during the preseason, meaning the two men would go against each other in various drills. Nothing out of the ordinary so far.

That changed during a one-on-one drill. Jeffery Simmons delivered a bull rush and drove Mauch backward. As the rep was nearing an end, the guard grabbed Simmons, twisted around, and threw him to the turf. Unsurprisingly, Simmons took exception to that. A fight almost broke out but was quickly broken up. Things were never really resolved after that. Nobody thought much about it moving forward. Based on what happened Sunday night, clearly Simmons had been. He’d likely been waiting for that opportunity for over a year.

Right down to throwing Mauch to the turf. Only he did it on national television. Savage.

There is one lesson to learn from this.

Don’t cross Simmons. A normal human being would’ve let a small practice scuffle like that go, not plotted revenge for over a year. That’s some Ray Finkle-level stuff. It once again speaks to the type of personality that the Bears have added to their locker room. It isn’t just about the talent with Simmons. He is obsessed with football. The guy is maniacal in his approach to the game. He expects nothing but the best from himself and doesn’t take kindly to guys getting in the way of that pursuit.

Mauch is a good player, too. It’s not like Simmons was dealing with a scrub. Sending an above-average starter flying like that is a feat very few in the NFL can achieve. That is yet another reason the Bears should be glad they got him instead of someone else in the NFC. Other players in the league should use this incident as a reminder that Simmons remembers everything.

The Chicago Bears didn’t play a clean game on Sunday night. That’s fine. Things get messy sometimes. You’d rather the offense not turn it over 5 times, but it happens. Thankfully, the Bears were treated to an excellent performance from their defense, which allowed just 24 points despite those turnovers. Much of this was thanks to contributions from its star players like Jeffery Simmons (sack), Jaylon Johnson (pick-six), and Devin Bush (4th-and-1 stop). However, they also received help from unexpected sources. By far the most surprising was Shemar Turner.

Chicago’s former 2nd-round pick returned a few weeks ago after rehabbing his torn ACL from last season. Since then, people haven’t heard much from him. Part of it was limited opportunities, and another part was not making many impact plays. Fans stopped paying attention after a while. Maybe that helped him focus. Or maybe Simmons’ arrival gave him a jolt. Whatever the case may be, Turner delivered his best performance to date in a Bears uniform, and it was multi-faceted.

Shemar Turner played a smart football game.

He wasn’t overcome with the need to make a play. Throughout the action, he looked like somebody who played with good control, sticking to his responsibilities. In this case, he engages with the tight end while keeping his eyes up. He quickly realizes that Tampa Bay has a screen called to that exact tight end. Turner wisely stops his forward momentum and traces where Baker Mayfield’s eyes are tracking, realizing his guy is the target. Mayfield realizes he has nothing and is forced to dirt the ball. If Turner keeps plowing forward on that play, Tampa has the blocks set up for a big gain.

It showed up against the run too.

Later in the game, Tampa Bay again decides to put a tight end on Shemar Turner. Once again, he makes them pay for it. They call an outside right off the right end with the left guard pulling to help. The problem is, Turner immediately stacked the tight end up, forcing Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell to retreat behind the guard as he moved right. That loss of momentum allows the defense to rally. Turner then shifts the point of attack to his left to keep any lane from opening, and the Bears rally to allow only 2 yards. That is a textbook rep for the young defensive end.

Turner was then rewarded for his efforts.

His biggest play of the game came when he once again found himself blocked by a tight end. Once again, he controlled the rep from start to finish. This time he was the beneficiary of a well-crafted blitz by Dennis Allen. Linebacker Devin Bush burst through a gap created as the right tackle moved to double-team Jeffery Simmons. Mayfield is forced to evade, juking to his right. Turner at that point sheds the tight end and cleans it up for his first career sack. Mind you, he only had 3 pass rush reps all night. Taking advantage of one to drop the QB is efficient work.

None of this is to say Turner has arrived. Not even close. However, after months of assuming the pick to acquire him was wasted, it feels like he took a step in the right direction. This time of game should build his confidence moving forward. That only serves the Bears’ defense well in the long term.

The Chicago Bears made their big trade of the year when they sent two 1st-round picks to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. His impact has been immediate and significant. He already has two sacks in his first two games, and the Bears’ defense held Seattle to 17 points and Tampa Bay to 24, despite the latter getting 5 extra possessions from turnovers. One must give general manager Ryan Poles credit. He waited a long time to take a home run swing and seems to have picked his moment perfectly.

Apparently, the Jacksonville Jaguars felt compelled to match and even exceed that same energy. With their momentum peaking in the AFC, they pushed all their chips onto the table with three consecutive trades in the span of 9 hours. It started by plucking veteran safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, then defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from New Orleans. Finally, their biggest bombshell came when they secured defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jacksonville somehow paid more for less than Ryan Poles did.

Let’s look at the total value here. The Jaguars sent the following out for those three players:

• 1st round picks in 2027
• 2nd round picks in 2027
• 2nd round pick in 2029
• 5th round pick in 2028
• 6th round pick in 2028

Thanks to those trades, Jacksonville now has just four picks in the 2027 draft, including none in the first two rounds. They have only four picks in the 2028 draft, though they’re all in the top four. Then in 2029, they won’t have their 2nd round pick. Remember, a normal amount of picks over three drafts is 21. Barring any changes in the coming years, the Jaguars are down to 14.

It’s fine, though. The Jaguars must’ve gotten some great players for such a sacrifice, right? Well, not really. Bates is still really good. While not at the All-Pro pace he played last season, he remains a playmaker on the back end. The problem here is that he’s a free agent after this season. Jacksonville will be $15 million over the cap next offseason. They won’t be able to retain him. These next three months are all they’ll get from him for those picks.

Jordan Davis is known for his run-stopping ability. He can be awesome at it at times. Consistency has been a constant issue for him this season, along with concerns about his conditioning. Philadelphia was 24th against the run this year. His impact has waned considerably.

As for Godchaux? He hasn’t had a positive run defense grade since 2021 and isn’t much of a pass rush threat.

Jacksonville has boxed itself in.

In essence, they’ve bet almost everything on 2026. Those trades were made specifically to push this team to a championship this season. They won’t have Bates after that. If they fail to win the Super Bowl, there is nothing else to do but call this gambit a massive failure. By contrast, Ryan Poles gave up two 1st round picks for the best defensive tackle in the sport, but maintains his 2nd round picks in each of the next two years. He also has constructed contracts to a point where he can easily free up cap space to dabble in free agency if he wants.

The point is Chicago remains in a good spot to keep adding to their roster in the future. They still have 19 of their usual 21 allotted picks over the next three years. Poles has a reputation for finding ways to get more. He’s maintained the stance that he always has one eye on the present and one on the future. This entire situation in Jacksonville represents the type of danger he wishes to avoid.

Jeffery Simmons has played two games for the Chicago Bears, and he’s already earning a reputation. He has two sacks in those two games, but that isn’t what has stood out the most. Simmons is what you’d call an instigator. He talks all sorts of trash during games. It doesn’t matter who it is. He’ll do it to everybody. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got an earful from him all night, but nobody got it worse than Luke Goedeke. Tampa Bay’s right tackle mixed it up with Simmons several times, and the Bears’ defensive tackle showed no mercy.

It came from all angles. One play, it’d be a strong bull rush. Another play, it’d be a nifty inside move. Then, on a stunt during one sequence, Simmons caught an unsuspecting Goedeke and knocked him to the turf. Tempers inevitably flared, and the two mixed it up a couple of times. Simmons pretty much came away the winner. Chicago sacked Baker Mayfield 4 times and held Tampa Bay’s offense to 24 points despite 5 extra opportunities from Bears offensive turnovers. Goedeker clearly had enough.

So much that he complained to the media about Jeffery Simmons.

The tackle spoke to Kalyn Kahler after the game and didn’t mince words. He accused Simmons of being a dirty player, both for launching his body when knocking Goedeke down and for intentionally holding him on occasion to give the Bears’ defensive ends a free run at the quarterback. Now, the second part of that statement is true. It’s been documented. Simmons has an incredible ability to reach out and tug on a tackle’s shoulder pads just long enough to disrupt their drop, giving defensive ends a step.

As for the body-launching part? That one holds less credence. Video replays show Jeffery Simmons is clearly leading with his hands when knocking Goedeke to the ground. One can understand how it might’ve felt like a blatant hit. The dude is built like Optimus Prime in his truck form. Either way, the fact that Goedeke aired his grievances publicly at all tells you how much Simmons got into his head. Normally, players don’t do that. They keep answers vague, try not to point fingers, and promise revenge.

For Goedeke to list things like that speaks to his level of frustration.

The Bears have found something rare.

When it comes to NFL players, you usually find them in one of two categories: great performer or great talker. You don’t always see the two combined into one. Simmons is that combination made manifest. He dominates you physically for 60 minutes, and yaps in your ear the entire time. The best comparison you can probably make is Warren Sapp. He was notorious for doing the same thing during his heyday with the Buccaneers. He’d blow up a run play or pressure the quarterback, spend 30 seconds dressing down everybody with his mouth, and do the exact same thing on the next play.

Simmons does the same thing. The goal behind it is simple. Reggie Miller once explained it. Around 70% of the talking is just to motivate and get himself going. The other 30% is to see if he can get in the opponent’s head. If he succeeds, that gives his team a huge advantage. Simmons recognizes that as well. He’s not afraid to be a lightning rod everybody hates. The more attention he draws, the better.

If you asked Chicago Bears fans going into Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers what the priority should be ahead of the trade deadline, they’d have said a cornerback or an edge rusher. More likely the former. Inconsistency on the back end of the defense has left the team vulnerable despite their massive upgrade at defensive tackle with Jeffery Simmons. However, after watching the game unfold, some feel the priorities have shifted. Helping the defense more would be nice, but is it possible the offense could use it more?

Adam Hoge of CHGO touched on it after the game. In his mind, the Bears must be starting to worry about their running game. Tampa Bay held them to just 3.5 yards per carry. It wasn’t much better last week in Seattle. Part of the issue has been the loss of tight end Cole Kmet. He was such a vital component of the team’s rushing attack. With him gone, rookie Sam Roush has done his best to fill the void, but it hasn’t been good enough. Perhaps the Bears could look into trading for help.

There are some options out there for the Chicago Bears to consider.

Trading for a blocking tight end may sound like a weak idea, but for a team like this, it matters a lot. Kmet was a vital component of their identity. Granted, the absence of Kyle Monangai in the backfield hasn’t helped either, but it starts up front. Roush may get there in the future, but he’s a rookie. He was always going to need time. The obvious question is: who do the Chicago Bears target for help? As we all know, it’s not just about finding a credible player. He must play for a team that might be interested in selling. After doing some research, three names popped up.

Probably the most intriguing is Charlie Woerner. The 29-year-old has quietly been a fixture for multiple excellent ground attacks, first with the San Francisco 49ers from 2020 through 2023 and then the Atlanta Falcons for the past three years. He is currently the highest-graded run-blocking tight end in the league. No doubt much of Bijan Robinson’s success traces back to him.

Next you have Elijah Higgins. While Trey McBride gets all the love, Higgins quietly remains a stout run-blocker who helped pave the way for two top-10 units in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, you have Mitchell Evans. The fact that he has a positive run-blocking grade despite playing for Carolina, who’s been horrible running the ball, should tell you something.

Woerner might be the cheapest option.

This is for two reasons. The first is that he turns 30 years old soon. Teams are more willing to make cheaper deals for “old” players. On top of that, Woerner is a free agent next year. With Atlanta fading, it would make sense for them to get any draft compensation for him while they can. GM Ian Cunningham already worked out a trade with the Bears earlier this year for Gervon Dexter. He and Ryan Poles are good friends. It shouldn’t be difficult for them to hammer something out.

Just remember that the Bears already made their big move. What they’re trying to do now is make one that can improve the team without further depleting their limited stash of draft resources. Cornerbacks are more expensive than blocking tight ends. That is why this idea holds more credence than many realize. With 24 hours left, a lot can happen.