There's every reason to think Braxton Jones has won thestarting left tackle spot, or perhaps retained it is the proper phrasing.
Coach Ben Johnson hasn’t said it yet, but Theo Benedet took no first-team snaps at left tackle on Wednesday in the last practice before Friday night's last preseason game with Kansas City. If that continues into and through the time starters leave the 7 p.m. game against the Chiefs, consider it a case closed.
Benedet has been a wonderful story as an undrafted Canadian with only 32 1/8-inch arms playing left tackle, unless you're Kiran Amegadjie. It was Amegadjie who was supposed to be the prototypical left tackle type with his 36 1/8-inch arms.
Instead, he's playing as third-team left tackle and his fate is in the wind with cutdown day approaching. He should be safe since it's only his second year. Then again, no one can be certain what the coaching staff thinks of his abilities.
Folks don’t appreciate how tough it is to move from RT to LT. #DaBears are trying to figure out if either Theo Benedet or Ozzy Trapilo can do it if Braxton Jones doesn’t get right. #Bears https://t.co/mjFwXkshnZ
— Anthony Herron (@BigAntHerron) August 18, 2025
As for second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo, there will be some disappointment in how he quickly faded out of left tackle consideration, how he wasn’t consistently quick enough from his stance according to what Johnson said.
"It's really play speed there," Johnson said. "There are times where the feet have gotten a little bit slow, at times, both in the run game and in pass pro (protection).
Is the ozzy Trapilo pick a wasted pick now
— Matt Miller (@mil77000902) August 20, 2025
"The mental of just speeding up, ball snapped, let's go ahead and get in a good physical position here to block the man in front of me. It's been a little bit of up and down."
Trapilo might even be labeled a poor pick by GM Ryan Poles as a result. This would be far too premature a conclusion to draw.
It can't even be called a disappointing effort by Trapilo yet.
Can someone explain to me why some people of this fanbase are running away with the Narrative that the Bears gave up on Ozzy Trapilo as a LT?
Like maybe they just value versatility and having more than 5 guys. Maybe they are training him at both? https://t.co/wMxJA1ZoQk
— Football (@Footballfan5455) August 18, 2025
Trapilo isn't much different than what most second-round offensive linemen have done.
In the 2023 and 2024 drafts 12 offensive linemen went in Round 2 of the draft and seven didn't have starting jobs on opening day.
The average first start of a second-round pick is Week 3 of the regular season. Second-round offensive linemen averaged 11 starts as rookies.
I'm starting to think the Bears' 2026 starting OT might end up being LT Darnell Wright and RT Ozzy Trapilo. https://t.co/XUZx2gxIrH
— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) August 15, 2025
Trapilo could very well wind up starting, although it might need to be at right tackle.
Benedet was talked about by GM Ryan Poles as a potential guard candidate in an interview last week on the team's flagship station, ESPN AM-1000. If he winds up at guard, Trapilo could still be a left tackle if they put Benedet at guard.
It's easy to be disappointed in how Trapilo didn't take the left tackle job when it was there, and had an undrafted Canadian fit into the spot ahead of him.
Should Ryan Pace have taken Ersery rather than trade back and take Ozzy Trapilo like he did? Ozzy can’t play LT
— Matt Williamson (@willy4412) August 19, 2025
Then again, it's easy to be disappointed you didn't win the lottery, too. Nobody gets everything they want.
The truth is, for second-rounders it's been less than a 50-50 shot for opening day the last two years and they'll get only 11 starts as rookies.
So no need to be disappointed Trapilo couldn't start yet.
Bears fans during Darnell Wright’s rookie season:
“Give the kid some time to improve! Doesn’t matter if he’s a top 10 draft pick, OT is a tough position to master at the NFL level!”
Bears fans with 2nd round rookie Ozzy Trapilo before he even plays a regular season snap:… pic.twitter.com/5OwZA1IjjU
— Shemar Turner FC (CeeVee3) (@CeeVee3YT) August 19, 2025
Save the disappointment for Jones if he fails to hold onto the position or struggles to get the job done after his battle back from a broken ankle.
It seems likely to be his job and they need him to at least be what he was last year or better.
If he isn't, it's going to be Caleb Williams who will be more disappointed than anyone.
Honestly if Trapilo sticks at RT that’s a very high wasted pick. You’re either stuck moving Darnell to LT where he’s never played or a high 2nd round pick was invested on a swing tackle. Yuck.
— Markseid (@DigBag0412) August 20, 2025
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