The Chicago Bears enter Preseason Week 3 without an answer to the question regarding who will start at left tackle when the games count in the standings.
I find myself looking at this in two ways. On the one hand, it stinks that the Bears haven’t solidified the left tackle position at this point on the calendar. That second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo hasn’t taken the opportunity and run with it has me feeling angsty about his future, especially if the team has already decided that left tackle won’t be his position moving forward. But on the other hand, I like that this coaching staff is allowing players to play their way into starting roles. This is something that should happen every year at several key positions.
That this team is holding a legitimate competition at left tackle right now shows how serious Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson is about getting it right at the offensive line. If Johnson and this new-look coaching staff weren’t wholly invested in the trenches, they would have likely decided on the incumbent Braxton Jones (because of his starting experience) or the rookie Ozzy Trapilo (because sometimes you throw stuff at a wall and it sticks) as starters. Instead, the beat (and the battle for a starting gig) rages on into Preseason Week 3.
Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (23) celebrates his rushing touchdown with offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn ImagesA different look at the Chicago Bears left tackle competition
Twitter/X user Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) ran down the grades of the competitors vying for the left tackle job who played in Sunday’s Bears preseason win against the Buffalo Bills. This is what those numbers look like:
BRAXTON JONES
Started, played 14 snaps 60.5 overall grade 63.2 pass blocking grade 57.3 run blocking grade 1 pressure allowedCHECK IT OUT: BRAXTON JONES REFLECTS ON INJURY, RECOVERY, AND COMPETITION
THEO BENEDET
Came off the bench, played 39 snaps with the second-team offense 81.7 overall grade 69.7 pass blocking gade 85.8 run blocking grade 2 pressures allowedMORE: HOW THEO BENEDET ENTERED THE LEFT TACKLE COMPETITION
OZZY TRAPILO
Played 20 snaps exclusively at right tackle with the second-team offense 68.7 overall grade 59.2 pass blocking grade 71.1 run blocking grade 1 pressure allowedEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHICAGO BEARS ROOKIE OZZY TRAPILO
KIRAN AMEGADJIE
Played with the third-team offense (33 snaps) 57.0 overall grade 27.3 pass blocking grade 65.6 run blocking gradeREVISITING THE KIRAN AMEGADJIE DRAFT PICK
Oct 30, 2021; Syracuse, New York, USA; Boston College Eagles offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (70) in pass protestion against the Syracuse Orange in the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesAt this point in the summer, I feel as if Braxton Jones has the inside track at being the Bears’ Week 1 starter. Unfortunately, it feels like it has less to do with what Jones is doing and is more about what those angling for his starting gig aren’t doing or haven’t done.
This team gave Ozzy Trapilo enough of a runway to stick the landing and make his case to start as a rookie, much like the team did when Jones was a Day 3 pick in 2022. But unlike Jones, who looked good at camp and in the preseason before running away with the job, Trapilo has yet to find consistency at left tackle. Perhaps the Bears’ long-term solution looks like Trapilo at right tackle and Darnell Wright sliding over to the left side. That possibility has been kicked around by the powers that be at Halas Hall.
A training camp injury sidetracked Kiran Amegadjie, but his play on the field hasn’t done much to instill confidence that he could be the guy. The Yale product is a work in progress, and I wonder if the Bears would try sneaking him onto the practice squad if they have some tough roster decisions to make on cutdown day. I think this coaching staff would like to see it through with Amegadjie, but it has been anything but smooth sailing in terms of his development at the pro level.
Offensive linemen Kiran Amegdjie (72) and Matt Pryor (79) protect Bears QB Caleb Williams in a game against the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. / Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesTheo Benedet is a late entry to the competition, but don’t let that fool you. He seems to have a real shot at earning a starting job. Benedet has stood out at practice, and the team has been giving him first-team reps during preseason games. That speaks volumes about how they feel Benedet has looked so far. Unfortunately, it probably says something about the others in the competition that a second-year undrafted developmental project has a fighting chance to be the Bears’ starting left tackle in Week 1.
In the end, I am reminded of this quote from Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson, who made it known that just because you are the Week 1 starter at left tackle doesn’t mean you are a lock to be the guy all year long:
“We’d love to go ahead and solidify that spot and move on from there. And it might be one of those things where when we make that decision, it’s not final for the season. It could be, we have to reassess after a couple of weeks of the season, or by the bye week, we might have to reassess. So it might be something that goes on. It wouldn’t be ideal, but that’s the name of the league.”
The good news is that the Bears will have a starting left tackle in Week 1. And while the preseason is drawing to a close this weekend, we are no closer to finding out who the long-term option will be at the position.
Jul 23, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard Theo Benedet (79) and offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) run a drill during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about what pff s grades say about the bears starting left tackle competition was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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