Windy City Gridiron
As someone that preaches patience, I’ve kept my patience for nearly a month and I’ve officially decided I’m hitting the panic button. The Bears have a left tackle problem.
After Friday’s joint practice with the Buffalo Bills, it’s clear the Bears, at this moment, don’t have a capable starting left tackle on this roster.
Kiran Amegadjie isn’t anywhere near the mix. Amegadjie isn’t even getting consistent reps with the third team. It’s clear this coaching staff doesn’t see him as any kind of fit this season. Perhaps they hope he can still develop, but this is not a guy who is going to be on a field on Sundays any time soon.
Theo Benedet has played his way into the left tackle competition mix. Benedet has looked really solid in his chances against second and third teamers, but when the competition has upped and Benedet has faced the first team players whether that be against the Bears or in joint practices against the Buffalo Bills, his performance has dropped off. Perhaps Benedet can get there eventually, but it certainly doesn’t feel like he’s there at this point.
Ozzy Trapilo seems to playing a lot of right tackle with the second team right now. It certainly feels like Trapilo is being looked at potentially as the team’s swing tackle with where he is getting his reps and has not been getting many opportunites at left tackle with the first team at this point.
That brings us to Braxton Jones who seems to be the odds on favorite to win the starting left tackle job at this point, but he continues to look terrible. Jones struggled against the Miami Dolphins in the first preseason game and he did not have a strong performance against the Buffalo Bills gving up a sack and multiple pressures.
Something looks off with Jones. This is not the same guy that was on the field for the Bears the last couple of seasons. Is he still hurt? Is he struggling with the new offense? Are the tweaks to his technique impacting him? Is it all three?
The bottom line, is Jones going to be ready week one? He has just over three weeks to get square which does sound like plenty of time, but he’s been out there just over three weeks at this point and he hasn’t improved like we all would have hoped.
The Bears are starting to get clarity at a lot of different positions. The depth chart is coming into focus, but right now, left tackle is a complete mess. Amegadjie doesn’t have it, Benedet needs to improve, Trapilo isn’t ready, and Jones is off his game.
If Jones isn’t the answer at left tackle week one, it certainly feels like the answer at left tackle isn’t on the roster. Could the Bears look to grab a veteran off the wavier wire in a couple of weeks and throw them to the wolves week one?
That may be the case if Jones doesn’t...
