NFL Injury Updates: Trapilo, Horton, Hunter
Things were looking up for the Bears as they finished the season with a winning record for the first time since 2018, made the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and won a playoff game for the first time since 2010. They also seemed to have found a possible answer to their long-standing questions at left tackle, as well, but the team’s trip to the postseason threw a bump in the road for that answer when rookie second-round tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon, ending his postseason and guaranteeing at least some missed games in 2026 but possibly all of them, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Trapilo was patient as a rookie. Starting out on special teams duty, the Boston College product was asked to fill in at right tackle when starting left tackle Braxton Jones went down with injury and right tackle Theo Benedet, filling in for an injured Darnell Wright, flipped over to cover the blind side. Wright was able to return the next week to spell Trapilo after he had a rough outing in his first opportunity at extended time on the first-team offense. By Week 12 of the season, though, Trapilo got his second chance at a starting opportunity and was ready for it. Mainly a right tackle in college, Trapilo was asked to try his hand at the left tackle spot, and the team saw immediate results. Not having manned the spot with a consistently reliable name since Charles Leno, Jr.‘s six-year run ended in 2020, it seemed sunshine had broken through the clouds before Trapilo went down in the playoffs.
We were aware that Trapilo was expected to miss time in 2026, and expectations had grown to speculation of a lengthy absence, but head coach Ben Johnson‘s comments this week changed that picture a bit. Per Finley, the second-year head coach informed the media that the team isn’t sure if they “will get…Trapilo back at all (for the 2026) season.” The Bears have some options to utilize as they bridge the gap until Trapilo’s return, recently adding former Browns starting left tackle Jedrick Wills to the pair that started the season at the position last year, Jones and Benedet.
Here are a couple other injury updates from around the NFL:
- A promising rookie campaign for Seahawks fifth-round wide receiver Tory Horton was unceremoniously cut short when he suffered a shin injury and missed the second half of the season. According to general manager John Schneider (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson), Horton is still going to be limited for spring workouts, but he is expected to be ready to return in time for training camp. The second-year Colorado State product will be returning to a receiving corps that still includes Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, former triple crown-winner Cooper Kupp, and — added since the last time Horton played — the dangerous, speedy Rashid Shaheed.
- Lastly, a much-anticipated rookie year for Jaguars second-overall pick Travis Hunter was similarly cut short after only seven games when he underwent a season-ending LCL repair procedure. According to Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, head coach Liam Coen relayed to the media this week that Hunter is “very well ahead of where he’s supposed to be,” in regard to his injury rehabilitation. He added that “the docs and athletic trainers feel really good about him.” Primarily working as a wide receiver in Year 1 and playing off the bench at cornerback, the two-way player is expected to play more defense upon his return from injury, receiving fewer offensive snaps next year, as a result.
Bears Expect T Ozzy Trapilo To Make Full Recovery; Lengthy 2026 Absence Likely
Ozzy Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon during the wild-card round of the 2025 playoffs. His availability to the Bears early next season is in serious doubt as a result. 
Missing Trapilo for any considerable period would deal a notable blow to Chicago’s offensive line given his performances as a rookie. The 2025 second-round projects as a potential long-term solution on the blindside, the only O-line spot which is currently unaccounted for in the case of the Bears. While he will likely miss time in 2026, Trapilo is at least expected to make a full recovery.
“We expect him to come back and heal from it,” general manager Ryan Poles said when speaking at the Combine (via Kole Noble). “There’s a plan in place. I can’t get into the timelines or anything like that, I just don’t know. But, yeah, we expect him to be back and be himself. Pretty significant injury that he’s got to get through, but in terms of affecting his overall career or next year, I don’t see that being an issue.”
The starting left tackle gig was a talking point throughout the 2025 offseason. Incumbent Braxton Jones found himself benched early in the season before a knee injury of his own led to a lengthy spell out of the picture. Along with Trapilo, Theo Benedet saw considerable time in the lineup as Chicago cycled through its LT options. Jones is a pending free agent, and a departure would come as little surprise in his case.
That could leave Benedet and 2024 third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie as left tackle options early next season. Afterwards, Trapilo could work his way back into the fold upon returning to full strength. The 24-year-old’s attention will be focused on recovery for several more months, but becoming available at some point next season will of course be a welcomed sign for the Bears.
Bears T Ozzy Trapilo Expected To Miss Time In 2026
Ozzy Trapilo was a key figure on the Bears’ offensive line during his rookie season. His second NFL campaign is likely to be delayed, though.
Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon during Chicago’s wild-card victory. The injury ended his rookie year and set up a lengthy recovery period. Surgery took place shortly after the Bears were eliminated during the divisional round, general manager Ryan Poles said (via Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network).
Trapilo’s attention will be focused on the rehab process for several months. Poles confirmed (via Bair) the second-round pick will be sidelined well into 2026. Missed time at the beginning of next season can be expected as a result. Not having Trapilo available for any notable stretch will leave the Bears thin at offensive tackle.
Chicago made a number of necessary moves aimed at providing upgrades up front last offseason. Guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson were acquired via trade before center Drew Dalman was signed in free agency. That trio, along with incumbent right tackle Darnell Wright, helped stabilize the Bears’ O-line. The left tackle spot remained a question mark well into the season, however. Trapilo wound up making six starts during the regular season, while former UDFA Theo Benedet started eight times and logged a similar overall snap share.
Braxton Jones was sidelined for an extended period due to a knee injury. He was activated from injured reserve in time for Chicago’s divisional round matchup but did not play. Jones, a pending free agent, was benched by new head coach Ben Johnson shortly before suffering his injury. A departure would come as no surprise, but coupled with Trapilo’s recovery timeline it would – at least temporarily – leave Chicago short on LT options.
Trapilo, 24, saw limited action at right tackle (a familiar position dating back to his time at Boston College). The majority of his play came on the blindside, though, and he delivered an encouraging performance in terms of PFF evaluation (31st among qualifying tackles). A full-time spot in the starting lineup could be available upon returning to full health, but the time at which that will be the case will be worth monitoring.
Bears Activate Braxton Jones From IR
JANUARY 18: While Jones has been activated, he will not immediately return to the starting lineup. Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirm the Bears will move Thuney to left tackle for today’s game. Jordan McFadden is likely to fill in for Thuney at left guard.
JANUARY 13: The Bears lost left tackle starter Ozzy Trapilo for the season. They have placed both he and linebacker T.J. Edwards on IR; the veteran linebacker also suffered a season-ending injury against the Packers.
One tackle reinforcement will be in place for Chicago’s divisional-round game, however. The team activated Braxton Jones from IR. The former fifth-rounder has been on IR since October. This could set up as Jones’ final act(s) with the Bears, as he is on track for free agency in March.
Jones’ placement on injured reserve (with a knee injury) came not long after being benched for the first time in his career. Jones operated as a full-time starter during his first three seasons with Chicago, a team which has looked into numerous options on the blindside in 2025. Chicago has used Trapilo and Theo Benedet as starters since demoting Jones. Benedet took Trapilo’s place against Green Bay.
With right tackle Darnell Wright earning All-Pro acclaim in a breakthrough season, Trapilo’s future will be at left tackle. The Bears will at least have an option against the Rams in Jones, who came up in trade rumors before his IR placement.
Prior to Jones’ IR trip, he had started 44 games since his 2022 rookie season. Winning Chicago’s LT job that year, Jones kept it through the end of the 2024 campaign before needing to fend off Trapilo and Benedet for the job in training camp. Jones still prevailed in that competition but had emerged as the weak link on Chicago’s revamped O-line — one that also placed left guard Joe Thuney on the All-Pro team.
It will be interesting to see how the Bears replace Trapilo. Benedet, a 2024 UDFA, started eight games this season. Pro Football Focus, however, graded the Canadian blocker poorly, placing him 74th among qualified tackles this season. PFF slotted Trapilo 34th in his rookie year, making this a situation to monitor ahead of the Bears’ 2-5 matchup with the Rams. This also drops Chicago’s injury activation count to one, even with the NFL granting playoff teams two additional activations. As PFR’s IR return tracker shows, the Bears have used nine total activations this season.
The Bears also signed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin from the practice squad. The NFLPA president has played in four games with the team this season, including the wild-card matchup.
Bears LB T.J. Edwards, LT Ozzy Trapilo To Miss Remainder Of Postseason
The Bears won a thriller over the Packers on Saturday, mounting an impressive second-half comeback to stun their rivals and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Chicago lost several starters for the remainder of its playoff run.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, meanwhile, sustained a patellar injury (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, who confirmed both players would miss the rest of the postseason). Albert Breer of SI.com said Trapilo’s injury is a ruptured patellar tendon and will require surgery and a six-month recovery.
Edwards, an Illinois native who grew up a Bears fan, originally joined the team as a free agent in March 2023. His three-year contract paid him less than $7MM per year, but he signed an extension in April that features a $10MM AAV and keeps him under club control through 2027.
The 29-year-old had not missed any time over the last three seasons, but he was limited to just 10 games in 2025 due to hamstring and hand injuries. When healthy, however, he remained a full-time starter, recording 67 tackles and a pick-six. Pro Football Focus assigned him a 72.0 overall grade for his work this season, which placed him 25th among 87 qualified players.
D’Marco Jackson relieved Edwards on Saturday and is in line to see a heavier workload going forward. The Bears are already thin at the LB position, as they placed Noah Sewell on injured reserve near the end of the regular season. Amen Ogbongbemiga missed the wildcard round due to a concussion.
Trapilo, a second-round rookie, earned his first start in Week 11, taking over for the demoted Theo Benedet (who had previously replaced Braxton Jones in the starting lineup). Trapilo played fairly well down the stretch, and his absence will be felt. Benedet took over for Trapilo in the Packers contest, and Jones – who was placed on IR shortly after his benching – could find himself back in the LT mix.
Prior to his demotion, Jones had started all 40 games in which he had appeared. The contract-year blocker was designated for return last week.
OL Rumors: Teller, Bears, Packers, Ravens
Wyatt Teller has been with the Browns since 2019, as the team made a savvy trade with the Bills to acquire a talented blocker who had not hit his stride just yet. The 2018 fifth-round pick has been selected to three All-Pro teams (as a second-teamer) and three Pro Bowls. Teller was a linchpin of Browns O-lines that paved lanes for Nick Chubb and produced two playoff berths this decade. But that group could splinter soon. Teller joins Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin as longtime Cleveland blockers on expiring contracts.
The Browns lost Teller to a calf injury against the 49ers, but they had already cut into his workload in what The Athletic’s Zac Jackson calls a preplanned benching. This brought ex-Bears starter Teven Jenkins into the lineup, which NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes was by design. Jenkins is also in a contract year, signing for one season at $3.1MM. He has not started a game in Cleveland, but that is expected to change this week. As Jenkins prepares to replace Teller due to injury, the Browns having planned to reduce his playing time already points to a likely 2026 exit for the seven-year starter.
Teller said earlier this season he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, and a new deal was believed to be under consideration as of September. Unlike Bitonio, the 31-year-old has not been linked to retirement. Teller’s four-year, $56.8MM extension voids on Feb. 10, 2026; no extension by that point would leave $10.39MM on Cleveland’s 2026 cap sheet. While Teller could expect to draw free agency interest, it will be worth following if he reacquires his starting job after this calf injury. Jenkins has plenty to play for as well, after his market underwhelmed this past offseason.
Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:
- The Bears also made another change at left tackle, inserting Ozzy Trapilo into their lineup to open their Black Friday matchup. Trapilo replaced Theo Benedet against the Eagles, helping the Bears compile a stunning 281 rushing yards in a road upset. Ben Johnson pointed to the second-round rookie, primarily a right tackle at Boston College, receiving more time at LT. The first-year HC called Trapilo “an ascending player,” via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma, and hinted at more reps coming his way. Benedet, who started seven games after usurping Braxton Jones, worked as a reserve against Philly. Considering Jones’ likely free agency departure, Trapilo seemed on track to receive a chance. Given Chicago’s success up front this season, plenty of eyes will be on the 6-foot-8 newcomer playing on a veteran O-line. Pro Football Focus ranks Benedet 67th among tackles.
- Green Bay also made a Week 13 change involving a second-round O-lineman, inserting Anthony Belton into its lineup at right guard over Jordan Morgan. After Belton ate into the first-round pick’s time in Week 12, he took over as the starter against the Lions. The Packers had alternated first-half series between Morgan and Belton in Week 12, but as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes, Belton worked the entire second half. It appears the job is his. A 2024 first-rounder, Morgan has been unable to find a home on Green Bay’s O-line. He has competed at guard and left tackle. With Rasheed Walker likely departing as a 2026 free agent, Morgan’s next chance to start (barring injury) could come then. Schneidman points to Morgan moving to that spot if/once Walker departs in March.
- Staying on the subject of O-lineman rotating into action, Ravens rookie Emery Jones did so at left guard Thursday. Jones, who came off Baltimore’s reserve/NFI list in late October, played 16 snaps in his debut. John Harbaugh pointed to more work, though the 18th-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) it is unlikely Jones will be cross-trained at RG as well. Primarily a college tackle, Jones cut into Andrew Vorhees‘ playing time at LG in Week 13. A 2024 seventh-rounder, Vorhees has started every Ravens game there this season.
Bears Officially Make LT Switch
Caleb Williams has a new blind side protector coming out of the Bears’ Week 5 bye. Head coach Ben Johnson announced (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain) that second-year offensive lineman Theo Benedet will start at left tackle on Monday against the Commanders.
Benedet started at right tackle in Week 4 against the Raiders with Darnell Wright nursing an elbow injury. Partway through the game, Johnson flipped Benedet to left tackle to replace Braxton Jones and inserted rookie Ozzy Trapilo on the right side. Chicago’s offense did not roar to life as Johnson may have hoped, but they were able to hold on for a 25-24 win in Las Vegas.
Benedet apparently performed well enough to hang onto the left tackle job, despite poor grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Jones also dealt with an ankle injury this offseason and may not have gotten all the way back to 100% before the season starter, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Though he has not popped up on the injury report, some rest may still be necessary to get him back to full strength, as his play has taken a hit relative to previous seasons.
In the meantime, the Bears will move forward with Benedet, who played college football in Canada for the University of British Columbia before arriving in Chicago as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He spent his first season on the practice squad and emerged as a surprising factor in the Bears’ left tackle competition during training camp this past summer.
It will be very interesting to see if Jones gets a chance to win his job back, as it is a contract year for the 2022 fifth-round pick. He was a rare Day 3 draftee to start at left tackle as a rookie, but regime change always brings roster turnover. The Bears can hold onto Benedet through the 2027 season, and both Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie could be long-term options at left tackle. That would make it difficult to justify re-signing Jones after the season, especially if Chicago intends to hang onto Wright, their 2023 first-round pick.
Bears To Start Braxton Jones At LT In Week 1
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.
Bears’ LT Situation Still Unsettled
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.
Theo Benedet Enters Bears’ LT Competition
One of the Bears’ top training camp battles has come at the left tackle spot. The competition is ongoing, and a fourth contender appears to have emerged.
[RELATED: Recapping Bears’ Offseason]
Theo Benedet has seen time with the starting offense during three practices this week, as detailed by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. The 2024 undrafted free agent spent last season on Chicago’s practice squad, but with the left tackle competition being labeled wide open by new head coach Ben Johnson, opportunities have presented themselves recently. Benedet worked at left and right tackle during the Bears’ preseason opener.
“He’s right in the middle of it,” Johnson said. “I’ve been very, very excited about Theo and what he’s done both on the right and the left side. He was probably overlooked to start this competition, but the longer this thing’s gone on, there’s a strong argument for what he’s put on tape.”
Benedet entered the NFL after playing collegiately in Canada. The University of British Columbia product has yet to play a regular season snap, so it would certainly come as a surprise if he were to land the Week 1 job. Still, the fact that Benedet, 23, has inserted himself into the conversation is noteworthy. Incumbent Braxton Jones recently received full medical clearance and he has also seen time with the starters up front during camp.
Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo has worked at both tackle spots this summer. The Boston College alum primarily operated as a right tackle in college, but he could find himself on the blindside depending on how the coming weeks play out. 2024 third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie has been in the mix, although he found himself with the third-team offense on Wednesday (h/t Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). The Yale product has missed considerable time this summer with a leg injury, hindering his chances of winning the starting gig. Johnson aims to have a clear-cut winner in place soon, and the upcoming preseason game could prove to be telling.
“We’ll go as long as we need to go to find the right guy,” Johnson said (via Cronen). “But we’d like to see someone go ahead and make it clear to us that he is that guy and we just haven’t seen that yet as a staff. There’s been too much up and down.”
Each of the candidates for the left tackle gig could see action on Sunday against the Bills. It will be interesting to see how Benedet in particular fares as the Bears seek out clarity regarding the overall depth chart up front.