Chicago Bears offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo explains why fully padded practices are crucial to his recovery process as he works toward making his return to the field.
It's a little fuzzy now, but Ozzy Trapilo remembers what it was like hobbling off the field on one leg in the Chicago Bears' wild-card matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 10, 2026.
He still doesn't know exactly how he managed to get off the field after rupturing his patellar tendon.
"I honestly have no idea," Trapilo said. "I remember ending up on one foot somehow. And then you know you go over the situation every week. If you can, you’ve got to get off the field. So I’m looking down. The left leg doesn’t work too well but I’m on one foot. So I just started hopping away. And we made it there. It’s a little cloudy. I don’t fully remember. But I got back to the sideline somehow."
Before Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon, he said his most significant injury was tendinitis in that same right knee. He didn't have experience working through an injury of this magnitude, but he wasn't surprised how quickly he came back. He credited the medical staff that helped him regain his strength in the weight room, the nutritionists, chefs and everyone who was involved in the all-hands-on-deck approach to get the 6-foot-8, 312-pound offensive tackle back where he is today.
Trapilo also credited the offensive line room for constantly supporting him through this process.
"It was great, even when they came back for OTAs for example and then they came back for camp, just having people around and being able to hang out with them again is truly good for the mental," he said. "And it’s a great room. So I am pretty lucky to have all of them around."
Both legs are operational. He didn't have an injury designation in the team's final injury report before last Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was still a healthy scratch, but as the Bears begin their preparation for a primetime game on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, Trapilo was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
That's important for the former second-round draft pick out of Boston College who didn't have a majority of summer to callus his body in training camp. Padded practices also provide Trapilo with the mental confidence he needs to play the left tackle position.
"Days like today for example, as I just said, just being able to go out there and experience it," Trapilo said after Wednesday's practice. "Like the speed to power rush. At first, you’re a little timid. And then you feel one and you’re like, alright, I’m good. We’re able to do this. So that’s definitely a big obstacle. But we’re getting there for sure."
Trapilo didn't specify on an exact timeline when he will be back, but his mindset remains the same -- chipping away each day until he makes his official return to the football field.
"They’re working with me and we’re trying to let this thing unfold," Trapilo said on Wednesday. "I feel good. Today was a good day for me. I’m able to sort of put myself into some of those situations that you end up in on Sundays, especially with the pads on. I think that’s really beneficial to go through – speed to power, bullrush, stuff like that to build the confidence back up."
