Chicago Bears left tackle spot to remain revolving door in 2026

Since head coach Ben Johnson’s arrival to the Chicago Bears, the franchise has invested heavily on their offensive line. But the one spot that has given Chicago problems is left tackle.

After a four-person battle in training camp, Braxton Jones came out on top and will head into Week 1 as the starter. For offensive coordinator Press Taylor, that doesn’t guarantee Jones will be starting the entire season, via Chris Emma of The Score.

“To be quite honest, this is probably going to continue to be a competition in some way, shape or form,” Taylor said. “Obviously, somebody’s got to go out there and start. We’ll make those decisions as it comes up. But it’s a week-to-week thing that we’re always going to do what we need to do to put the best five out there given the game that’s coming up.”

#Bears OC Press Taylor indicated the left tackle competition will be ongoing and will be a week-to-week evaluation. pic.twitter.com/UftleSF4sJ

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) September 3, 2026

After roster cutdown, Jones’ biggest competitors for the starting role are Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo. Benedet is expected to serve as Chicago’s swing tackle. Trapilo is still working his way back from his patellar tendon surgery. But the former is capable of playing on both sides. The latter will eventually be healthy. Jones will need to consistently perform if he wants to stay on Caleb Williams’ blindside.

Braxton Jones trying to keep Chicago Bears LT job

Chicago Bears, Braxton Jones — Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (23) celebrates his rushing touchdown with offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

During the 2024 season, Jones’ 77.4 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 21/81 tackles. His 80.8 pass blocking grade ranked 17th. But in 2025, injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to just six games. Injury problems are nothing new for Jones throughout his career. He played in 12 games during the 2024 season and 11 in 2023.

Still, when Trapilo went down, the Bears turned back to Jones. He made a triumphant return and reclaimed his starting left tackle job. At least to enter the year, Chicago seems confident in where their offensive line stands.

But how Jones fares in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers will tell the bigger story. Johnson has proven before he has no problem making a change if necessary. Taylor is on board with that planning, only wanting to put the best version of the Bears on the field.

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