The Chicago Bears entered training camp knowing their most pressing question wasn’t at quarterback, running back, or even edge rusher. It was at left tackle, the position tasked with protecting Caleb Williams’ blindside. Head coach Ben Johnson has been clear about what he wants: clarity.
“Ben Johnson wants one player in this left tackle competition to come out and say, ‘This is my job,'” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported.” To take it, to provide this team clarity. They do not have that yet.”
Cronin added that Johnson has left the door open to reevaluating the position even after the season begins, especially with the Bears‘ bye falling in Week 5. “They are going to leave the door open to potentially starting the season with one left tackle and then evaluating how things look over the first four games,” Cronin said. “They fortunately have that Week 5 bye to reset and reassess where everything is, potentially making a change at that point.”
The competition that originally featured Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kiran Amegadjie has only grown more complicated. Theo Benedet, an undrafted free agent in 2024, has surged into the mix with first-team reps and started at left tackle with the second unit on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. For Johnson, Benedet’s rise is evidence that nothing is guaranteed.
No Clear Winner at Left Tackle
Johnson admitted after the game against the Bills that this was a huge test for the four men vying for the starting left tackle role.
“I think this game is going to go a long way. …We came into this game thinking this would be a big one for eval.” But while the game provided plenty of film, it didn’t deliver the exact type of clarity the coaching staff had hoped for.
Jones got the nod at left tackle with the first-team offense but played in just two drives. Benedet started at LT with the second unit, manning left tackle while Trapilo shifted to right tackle. Amegadjie, who still appears to be working through a leg injury, handled snaps with the third unit at LT. The rotation allowed coaches to get extended looks at each player, but by the final whistle, there wasn’t a clear winner.
Jones has the advantage of experience with 40 starts across three seasons, but his inconsistency remains an issue. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar praised Jones for showing improvement in joint practices earlier this month but called out his tendency to “revert back” to bad habits during games. For Johnson, the up-and-down play has kept the door wide open.
Benedet is the real wild card. After going largely overlooked to start the offseason, the former University of British Columbia standout has impressed with his versatility and steady play. Johnson admitted he has made a “strong argument” for a bigger role.
Trapilo, meanwhile, has the experience to play at both tackle spots but hasn’t seemed to seize his opportunity to start at left tackle just yet. And unfortunately for Amegadjie, he looks like he might be yet another third-round dud for Ryan Poles unless he can really turn things around.
A Temporary Fix or a Long-Term Answer?
The Bears‘ challenge isn’t just finding the best option for Week 1; it’s determining whether any of these players can be the long-term solution. Johnson has made it clear that this “is not going to be a revolving door.” But there are also his comments about reevaluating the position after the bye week.
That flexibility might prove crucial. Chicago’s front office can afford to “play its cards right” and patch together a short-term solution in 2025. If neither Jones, Trapilo, Amegadjie, nor Benedet shows they can be the left tackle of the future, the Bears could target a franchise left tackle in the first round of next year’s draft.
But that’s a conversation a lot of people aren’t willing to have.
And guess what? Competition is good. It should be celebrated that an undrafted offensive lineman has outperformed expectations, and it only makes the other three players work even harder.
For now, the competition rages on. Each practice, each preseason snap, and ultimately each regular-season rep will carry weight. Johnson wants one of the guys to seize the job. Until that happens, the most important position on Chicago’s offensive line remains unsettled, and the pressure to protect their prized quarterback grows heavier by the day.
The Bears Have a Huge Headache, But a Good One