Chicago Bears News & Rumors

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.

Darnell Wright is set to spend his third straight season as the Bears’ starting right tackle. A central aspect of Chicago’s offseason was a complete renovation along the interior of the offensive line, with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson being acquired via trade and center Drew Dalman arriving in free agency.

Those moves should help Caleb Williams avoid taking as many sacks in 2025 as he did during his rookie season. Crucially, though, Chicago’s left tackle spot has been a question mark throughout the offseason. New head coach Ben Johnson has overseen an open competition through training camp and the preseason. With the team’s exhibition games in the books, no standout option has emerged.

“I think we’re going to have a starter Week 1, and we’ll go from there,” Johnson said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I said it a few weeks ago – we feel good about the guys we have in that room. Someone’s gonna take the bull by the horns and is going to completely take over. But we’re not afraid to make a change if the performance isn’t where it needs to be.”

Incumbent Braxton Jones was fully cleared late last month after ankle surgery. That has allowed the pending 2026 free agent to work with the starters in training camp, but he has not done enough for Johnson to declare him the winner of the competition. Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo has had opportunities on the blindside as well as right tackle this summer. The same is also true of 2024 undrafted free agent Theo Benedet, who did not see any regular season game time last season.

The other player who has represented an option (albeit never the top one) in the left tackle contest is Kiran Amegadjie. Drafted in the third round last year, the Yale product made six appearances and one start as a rookie. Amegadjie could see time at left tackle in 2025, but general manager Ryan Poles said this week (via Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network) he will begin working at guard as well.

As such, Jones remains the likeliest candidate to start in Week 1. The 26-year-old has started each of his 40 games to date, but 11 missed contests across the past two seasons have proven to be an issue. A healthy slate in 2025 would be critical in determining Jones’ market value next spring. Based on Johnson’s comments, though, it is still unclear if Jones or any one other player will receive the left tackle nod throughout the campaign.