The Bears have their quarterback set for the season, but the competition for protecting Caleb Williams’s blindside is still underway. Braxton Jones held the starting position last season, but head coach Ben Johnson has opened it up for a battle in training camp.
Kiran Amegadjie and second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo were early contenders. Recently, Theo Benedet has been getting first-team reps. Benedet went undrafted in 2024 and spent last season on the practice squad.
Johnson expressed the team’s hope to solidify that position soon. However, he emphasized that they need a clear standout: “This thing has gone on now three-and-a-half weeks. We’ll go as long as we need to find the right guy. But we’d like to see someone step up, and we haven’t seen that yet. There’s been too much inconsistency.”
This Sunday’s game against the Bills could bring the Bears closer to a decision. However, Johnson warns that the Week 1 starter might not be locked in for the whole season. The best scenario? One of the candidates makes a strong case for the job.
Competition like this is crucial in sports. Historical context shows that teams often benefit from having a solid left tackle. For instance, the New England Patriots consistently elevated their performance with strong protection on the line during their winning seasons. Former NFL coach Bill Parcells once said, “You need a quarterback you can rely on, but you also need a line to block.”
As of now, the Bears will be keenly observing how each candidate performs in actual game situations. The building anticipation also reflects wider trends in the NFL, where teams often face uncertainty at key positions as they navigate training camps.
With every passing week, the stakes grow higher, both for the players involved and for the team’s overall success this season.
Source link
