The Chicago Bears have lived on the edge all season long, so why not during the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs?
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago is considering moving offensive guard Joe Thuney to the left tackle position to replace injured rookie Ozzy Trapilo at the most important spot on the offensive line.
“Plan B with Ozzy Trapilo out? #Bears could be fixing to move All-Pro Joe Thuney to left tackle to protect Caleb Williams against formidable #Rams defensive front,” Biggs wrote on X.
Chicago lists sixth-round rookie Luke Newman as the backup left guard on its depth chart, while Jordan McFadden is the backup right guard. If the Bears move Thuney to tackle, either Newman or McFadden would likely take his place at the left guard position.
Trapilo sustained a season-ending patellar injury during the Bears’ Wild Card Round victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Joe Thuney Played Left Tackle for AFC Champion Chiefs Last Season
GettyChicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered health and consistency issues at left tackle during their run to the Super Bowl last season, during which they made the same move of pulling Thuney from left guard out to left tackle.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke about the decision ahead of the team’s third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, which the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“That kid, we have him out at left tackle now … and now he’s out there at left tackle, and he doesn’t say a word about it. He doesn’t complain, and that’s a whole different world out there,” Reid said on January 30, 2025. “There’s no security blanket when you’re on that side there on [the] outside. That’s a tough spot. But he just steps in and goes and never blinks on it.”
Bears Have 2 Players in Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet Who Have Started at Left Tackle This Year
GettyChicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones.
If Chicago decides to kick Thuney outside, it will be a significant statement on how the team feels about Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet.
Jones began the year as the starting LT after spending his first three NFL seasons playing that position for the Bears. However, the team benched Jones for Benedet before Jones went on injured reserve for the first of two times this year. The team added him back to the active roster earlier in the week.
Benedet, in his second year after joining the team as an undrafted rookie in 2024, served as the starter at LT for several games before the Bears went to Trapilo. Trapilo’s injury throws a wrench into the Chicago O-line, which finished the season ranked No. 3 in the league, at the worst possible time.
“The Bears’ offensive line gave up a league-high 37 sacks in 2024, but the revamped unit surrendered only 13 sacks in 2025,” Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus wrote on January 7. “Chicago allowed just 145 pressures on 643 snaps, leading to an 87.7 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating, which ranked third in the NFL this season.”
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