Why Braxton Jones' Time as the Bears' Starting Left Tackle is Limited

Braxton Jones will start as the Chicago Bears' left tackle this season, making this his fifth year as the opening day starter. It's quite the accomplishment for the former fifth-round pick from Southern Utah. 

Jones understands his history as an opening day starter isn't the norm in the NFL. 

"Yeah, you know I’m incredibly proud of myself," Jones said. "I came off that Tennessee joint practice, which was crazy and I just said the same thing, I’m proud of myself for fighting back. That’s a great accomplishment. Not a lot of fifth rounders get the opportunity to do that and I think I’m going to continue to try to seize that moment and do the work that nobody’s watching me do and I think everything will take care of itself. But yeah, I am proud of myself."

And Jones should be. He was benched after playing 18 snaps in the Week 4 matchup against the Los Vegas Raiders last season and didn't a play a game the rest of the season. 

He beat out 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie and veteran Jedrick Wills Jr. -- the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bears waived Amegadjie and released Wills on Aug. 30. 

Despite Jones missing some time in training camp with a knee injury, the veteran offensive tackle showed enough to head coach Ben Johnson and the rest of the coaching staff to win the starting job. 

For now. 

Bears 2025 second-round draft pick Ozzy Trapilo is still ramping up from a ruptured patellar tendon. Johnson didn't have a timeline for Trapilo's official return, but he said, "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."

On the Bears' first injury report on Wednesday, although an estimated one since the team didn't practice, Trapilo (knee) was limited. As the 6-foot-8, 312-pound left tackle continues to stack padded practices each week, his time will come to take the starting left tackle job from Jones. 

Jones will have every opportunity to prevent that outcome. He enters this season knowing what it takes, something he lacked a year ago. 

"I think, like I said earlier, every rep, just taking one rep at a time," Jones said. "I think last year, as I was going in as the starter I just was looking at the bigger picture instead of just taking every single rep as gold and evaluating each and every day. As I come in off this first practice, I’m going to evaluate all those reps and go over that and then kind of just go through my process. When I have a good process each week and stay true to that, I think everything comes together on Sunday."

When Johnson confirmed Jones would be the starting left tackle on Tuesday, he also didn't commit to him long term. Like every player on the roster, their starting status must be earned. That's the standard Johnson has established at Halas Hall. 

Trapilo started six games for the Bears last season and showed he's capable of holding his own against NFL pass rushers. He played 491 offensive snaps, allowing two sacks, three quarterback hits and was penalized twice. 

The Bears will kick off their 2026 season against the Carolina Panthers. Interior defensive lineman Derrick Brown and outside linebacker Jalean Phillips are the primary pass rushers the Bears' offensive line will have to stop. 

When Jones is left on an island or tasked with setting the edge in the run game, his execution must be consistent. Anything less will only open the door for his time as a starter to come to an end.