Chicago Bears’ $48 million investment in danger of losing job

The Chicago Bears have a couple of notable battles going on in training camp this summer.

While the secondary has a lot of unknowns about who will start in Week 1 amid injuries, most of the serious position battles in training camp are coming in the trenches.

The Bears are trying to sort out the offensive line amid left tackle Ozzy Trapilo’s injury and center Drew Dalman’s surprise retirement, though it appears Garrett Bradbury will start at center in Week 1 while second-round pick Logan Jones learns the position.

Chicago also needs to see someone step up and win the starting defensive end spot opposite Montez Sweat.

Per Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jones appears to be winning the battle to start at left tackle. He’s been competing with Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. for the left tackle job.

Austinn Booker, the Bears’ fifth-round pick in 2024, appears to have an early upper hand on Dayo Oedyingbo.

“The Bears seem to be settling in on Braxton Jones as their starting left tackle, as expected,” Lieser wrote. “On the other side of the line, though, Austin Booker is making a strong push to start at defensive end over Dayo Odeyingbo.”

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Booker showed progress and promise in his second season when he recorded 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 10 games played and nine starts (he missed the beginning of the season due to a knee injury). Still, it would have been optimal for Booker to be a rotational sub this season, while allowing Odeyingbo to be the starter.

The Bears signed Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million deal in free agency last year. He made 21 tackles and one sack in eight starts last year before suffering a torn Achilles against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chicago needs its pass rush to be much better this season, and it appears Booker gives the team more of a chance to get to the quarterback than Odeyingbo. The Bears made a questionable move to sign Odeyingbo in free agency last year, and he could lose the starting job in 2026.

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