Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson named a starting left tackle for the team's Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Plus, an update on second-year player Ozzy Trapilo.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson addressed the media on Tuesday at Halas Hall for his first appearance of the week before Sunday's Week 1 road matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
Like last season, the Bears entered the first week of the regular season without a starting left tackle named. That ended on Tuesday. Johnson confirmed that Braxton Jones will start against the Panthers.
Jones was named the starter last season as well, but he lasted just four games before Theo Benedet replaced him in Week 4 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones didn't play another snap all season.
Veteran Jedrick Wills Jr. was released with an injury settlement, and Kiran Amegadjie -- a third-round pick in 2024 -- was waived on roster cut down day. Second-year player Ozzy Trapilo is still ramping up from a ruptured patellar tendon he sustained on Jan. 10 in the wild-card matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Johnson provided an update on Trapilo and his expectations for the former second-round draft pick.
"I don’t have a timeline but I do think he’s getting invaluable work right now, whether it’s individual or some of the things we’re doing after practice," Johnson said. "That was our intent — today’s a padded practice. We want to make sure he’s maximizing the number of padded opportunities he gets as he’s continuing to get better every single week. So I think it’s a matter of time. I can’t say it’s in the near future. I know he’s working his tail off. It’s been beyond impressive for him to be where he is today. The fact that he’s out there with those guys and he’s strong, he’s flexible, it’s a credit to him. It’s a credit to guys in the weight room who have been training him. I think we’re headed in the right direction there."
Jones has openly talked about the left tackle competition throughout the summer, pointing to consistency being a key part in whoever ended up winning the starting job. Consistent play will also help Jones keep his job. Anything other than that and Johnson won't hesitate to go in a different direction.
"It’s every position that’s being evaluated," Johnson said. "I just talked to the skill guys on offense. Right now I don’t know when we line up in certain personnel groups who’s going to be our receivers right now. It’s early. By the time we get to Friday, Saturday, that’s when we’ll stamp them. They’ve earned that during the course of the week. I don’t think it’s any different for the offensive line. Just because I’m saying that here on a Tuesday doesn’t mean that’s how it always shakes out. He’s gotta earn that, Braxton does, as do all the players that are going to be active on game day. They gotta earn it. They gotta show us that they deserve to be out there. That’s how we go about it in this building and I think they understand that."
The Panthers finished 28th in the NFL with just 30 sacks. To help improve that mark, Carolina signed pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million deal. The 27-year-old ended with 53 total tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and four passes defensed last season.
Phillips and defensive tackle Derrick Brown anchor Carolina's defensive front. Jones and the rest of the Bears' offensive line will be tasked with holding off those two playmakers to give quarterback Caleb Williams the time he needs to run Johnson's offense on Sunday.
