The biggest ongoing question at Halas Hall remains who will be the starting left tackle for the Bears come week 1, but after an eventful practice on Wednesday, there isn’t as much clarity as there seems to be at both tackle positions.

After three different players started games at left tackle for the Bears last season, there was a renewed emphasis on retooling the offensive line in the offseason. General Manager Ryan Poles signed Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman, and traded for veteran Joe Thuney, who got a new contract.

Not yet at 100% following last season’s broken ankle in week 16, Braxton Jones enters his contract season in a competition battle after the Poles drafted Ozzy Trapilo in the second round of the NFL draft. However, as training camp began, the coaching staff noted that the position battle would involve Jones, Trapilo, and second-year tackle Kiran Amegadjie.

With both players getting reps on Sunday in the first preseason game at left tackle, the coaching staff still needed answers. Which proceeded with Wednesday’s practice making the position battle at left tackle and now right tackle interesting.

Position battle update

Chicago mixed things up during Wednesday’s practice, as the day began with Trapilo gaining reps at right tackle with the second team. This has been something offensive line coach Dan Roushar have been wanting to see from the 6-foot-8 tackle. But why now, after starting every game at right tackle for Chicago since 2023, is Darnell Wright’s job on the right side not so steady?

“A little bit too inconsistent,” Roushar said. There’s moments where, as we look at him, when he loses focus or fatigue starts to set in, we see a decline in play. But when he’s on point, I’ve seen Darnell do some things that you get excited about. He just hasn’t been able to stack it, play, after play, after play.”

Trapilo proceeded to stay on the right side of the line during the 1-on-1 drills Wednesday getting more reps. Trapilo, started over 24 games at Boston College from the right side, and also started in 10 games from the left side in his four years as an Eagle his experience is there, and has stated, he has no preference on which side he plays.

A new face entered the competition on Wednesday as Chicago tried out Theo Benedet at left tackle, who worked in with the first team during team drills. From the University of British Columbia, Benedet went undrafted last season. After suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason, he signed a reserve/future contract for the 2025 season and is now getting his shot.

Amegadije worked at left tackle with the third team on Wednesday, but more will be revealed on Friday in the joint practice against the Buffalo Bills and when the starters play on Sunday.

Jones stayed at left tackle on Wednesday, taking reps with the second team, and also got the left tackle reps in the two-minute drill.

What was a three-person competition at left tackle has now reached four, with four weeks left until Week 1. Head coach Ben Johnson has emphasized the team just needs more and more reps, but didn’t say how long the starters would play on Sunday.

Roushar also provided the media with honest conversations he had with Jones following his performance on Sunday against the Dolphins.

“On the day off, he and I had a little communication, and I thought on Friday against Miami, on the 1-on-1’s, I saw (Jones) set with balance, his hips were down, and he used his length, and I saw a player we can win with,” Roushar said. “When I watched him Sunday, as I told him, I said, ‘You reverted back to what ever this is for you’. But that’s not acceptable.

“So every day we have to go in, and we will have a standard, we’ll maintain that standard, hold those guys to that standard because what he does, or anybody that’s playing the left tackle or any other position, impacts the entirety of the group.”

The interior of the Chicago Bears is intact, but along with the ongoing left tackle battle, right tackle for the Bears isn’t as secure as it seems. What will help now is the coaching and the accountability to build that standard.

This is far from over, but will get a more precise answers come Monday of next week. Starters for those two position have yet to be announced, but can anticipate a rotational switch from series to series.

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