It’s a little late in preseason to be messing around with the starting left tackle job, so it’s highly unlikely [Bears](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears) coach Ben Johnson is giving longshot [Theo Benedet](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/05/11/canadian-rookie-ol-theo-benedet-is-bears-next-big-project-on-offensive-line) an extended run with the first team.
Johnson has been displeased with incumbent starter Braxton Jones, second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo and second-year player Kiran Amegadjie, and Benedet took most of the first-string snaps Friday in a joint practice with the Bills. Jones got some as well, but primarily worked on the second unit with Trapilo at right tackle in that group.
Johnson seemed annoyed by the uncertainty after the Bears went into training camp hoping to settle on a starting five and establish continuity going into the season.
“This is not going to be a revolving door,” Johnson said before practice. “We want one guy to clearly come out and say this is his job. We haven’t gotten that yet from our crew.
“I’d love to have five guys start on the offensive line for all 17-plus games, but that’s just not reality. We are going to have a lot of guys cycling through... If one guy is not performing up to snuff, then we will find someone else who can.”
Johnson said he would not rotate players at left tackle during a regular-season game, but left open the possibility of competition going into the season. Whoever opens as the starter Sept. 8 against the Vikings might not be the starter in Week 6 when the Bears come off their bye week.
Benedet’s emergence does not appear to be a tactic by Johnson to light a fire under Jones and Trapilo.
He was undrafted out of University of British Columbia last year and spent all season on the Bears’ practice squad. He went into camp this season unlikely to make the roster, but launched himself into the competition this week.
“He’s right in the middle of it,” Johnson said. “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.”
The preseason game against the Bills on Sunday should answer where everyone stands for now. With quarterback Caleb Williams starting, Johnson will go with whoever he trusts most to protect him.