After an open competition during training camp, the Bears have settled on their Week 1 starting left tackle: Braxton Jones.
Head coach Ben Johnson announced the decision on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, keeping the team’s incumbent LT in place for the time being. Johnson previously said that he would name a Week 1 starter and “go from there.”
Jones, a 2022 fifth-round pick, started all 17 games as a rookie but missed 11 games due to injury over the last two years. He was medically cleared from the ankle surgery that ended his 2024 season at the beginning of camp and fought off challenges from recent Day 2 picks Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo, as well as second-year UDFA Theo Benedet. All four took snaps at left tackle in the preseason with Trapilo and Benedet working in at right tackle as well.
Jones always seemed like the most likely option to start in Week 1. He has consistently graded out as a good (but not elite) tackle in his first three seasons, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He and right tackle Darnell Wright will provide some continuity in a Bears offensive line that brought in three new starters along the interior this offseason.
However, Johnson’s desire to test out his options at left tackle could be a sign that Jones does not have long-term security in Chicago. With younger options waiting in the wings and an expensive interior trio, Jones will have to stay healthy and play well to make a case for an extension with the Bears. The team may already be angling to move on to Amegadjie or Trapilo in 2026 and beyond, in which case Jones could hit free agency as a coveted young left tackle with multiple years of starting experience under his belt.
Shocker. In other news Chicago is cold in the winter.
exactly. barring an injury or trade, it had to be done this way. no way you start a rookie and risk him going to the bench and losing confidence if he doesn’t perform well to start when you have a capable healthy starter. Poles/Johnson would much rather bench Jones if needed and call on Trapilo rather than the reverse.
Jones has never really had anybody who was all that next to him. He was usually on an island and performed pretty good. Now he has an All pro next to him and 2 TE’s who can chip the Edge and also give him a hand. As long as Williams stays where he’s supposed to and gets the ball out on time anybody who plays there will be in a better position than last year. A least that’s the way I’m looking at it. As long as he’s healthy he was the obvious choice.
Agreed, Mike. Plus I think he’s still working his way back from that serious leg injury. I’m really hoping Thuney can help him out this season.
Won job by default
Williams start running now