LAKE FOREST, Ill., — Entering the 2026 season, left tackle Braxton Jones has just one goal: Get back to the very top by winning his starting position. The climb back to winning the starting role for Jones started when the Bears reported to Halas Hall for offseason workouts, a period of time that included OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Starting the 2025 season as Chicago's starter at left tackle, Jones found himself injured halfway through the season, and while he did fully recover, he was never able to crack the starting lineup again.
"I'll be up front, straight up," said Jones. "It's obviously a lot and it can go up and down. I will say everything I have gone through up until this point has happened for a reason just to get me where I'm at now and building that confidence again. So, yes, there're ups and downs, it's life. That's what life is. Not getting too low, not getting too high in those moments."
As the Bears try and figure out who their starter at left tackle will be, Jones enters a unique situation going into his fifth season. He has three years of starting experience and could have tested the free agent market but opted to return to Chicago on a one-year deal, hoping that familiarity with Ben Johnson's offense would allow him to secure long-term stability in terms of his career.
"It means everything to me to be able to get the reps during this OTAs, know what we want as a team," said Jones. "Being able to go out there and just rep it over and over again and have such a great coach like Dan (Roushar), who is just on me about the small details. It's unbelievable."
Honing in on details means that he will have an opportunity to compete for the right to start in 2026 and if he can remain healthy throughout the season, the Bears will have a veteran leader and high level of stability on the left side of the offensive line. Head coach Ben Johnson won't put a ceiling on Jones potential but saw a lot of progress from him throughout the Bears offseason program.
"It's hard to say, who's up, who's down, who's trending sideways," said Johnson. "You really can't say a whole lot right now. He's a lot more comfortable with what's being asked of him and hopefully the game continues to slow down."
His focus is squarely on the upcoming season as Jones looks to make his mark, and while both sides are hoping for the best, having a refreshed, motivated, and healthy Jones is the best case scenario for both sides, especially with some question marks as to who the starter will be at the left tackle position.
"The biggest thing is just reps, getting as many reps as I can," said Jones. "Obviously, I've got to be better in certain areas. Pass protection, run game efficiency, all of that is going to come together. But I think the amount of reps I can get, turning the body, making sure everything's rolling and taking as many reps as I possibly can is going to be the biggest thing in setting me apart. Then everything will come after that."
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