LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – With a month to go until the Bears open the regular season on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field, it remains unclear who will protect quarterback Caleb Williams’ blindside.
The Bears are holding an open competition at left tackle between fourth-year pro Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo. That position battle will continue on, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said Monday.
“The tape doesn’t lie,” Doyle said. “It will become clearer and clearer as time goes on that one of those guys is going to separate themselves – in the eyes of the decision-makers, of Ben (Johnson), of our front office, of the O-line coaches, of myself. But incomplete evaluation thus far. We still a lot of football left to play.”
Trapilo played 50% of the Bears’ offensive snaps in their 24-24 tie against the Dolphins in their preseason opener Sunday, while Jones worked 32% of the snaps. Second-year offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, who was considered part of the positional battle when camp opened, has missed the past week with a leg injury.
Jones and Trapilo each struggled at times Sunday.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement in both cases,” Doyle said. “I think (offensive line coach Dan Roushar) addressed that with them in their meeting. Really, it's about who's willing to make improvement on that performance and keep accelerating to see who's going to be the guy there Week 1.”
Jones is the Bears’ incumbent starter at left tackle, having started 40 games at the position over the last three seasons. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury last December that required surgery.
Jones returned from his rehabilitation at the start of training camp in late July. He’s in a contract year in 2025.
The Bears selected Trapilo in the second round of the NFL Draft in April. He has rotated with Jones at left tackle during training camp.
Johnson indicated the Bears are gaining clarity on the competition, but there’s still work to be done.
"The situation is what it is, but we're all out there trying to be better as a team,” Trapilo said.
“So, they're doing their part. I'm doing mine, and we're just trying to make each other better."
Roster move
The Bears signed running back Brittain Brown to the roster Monday. In a corresponding move, the team waived cornerback Ameer Speed with an injury designation.
Brown, 27, was a seventh-round pick in 2022. He has played in six career NFL games – all as a rookie with the 49ers – but hasn’t recorded a carry.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.