Braxton

Jones

The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs said Wright “came up awkward in the final period,” indicating Wright got banged up while taking a tumble. Hopefully, he returns quickly, without issue. OTs Braxton Jones and Ozzy Trapilo are competing for the Bears’ left tackle role. One of them could potentially shift to the right side, if need be.

Ditto LT Braxton Jones. Pace then said “there will likely be a ramp-up period.” So they’re good to be ready to slowly get ready to go. Either way, there’s no reason to have any long-term concern about Loveland’s shoulder heading into his rookie season.

The Bears have now signed two of their three second-round picks, having kicked things off by signing DT Shemar Turner earlier today. Luther Burden remains the team’s only unsigned second-round pick. Trapilo will compete with incumbent OT Braxton Jones for the starting left tackle job. Jones has been recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to participate in the Bears’ training camp.

Jones has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 16 last year. Second-round rookie OT Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 third-round OT Kiran Amegadjie have been competing at left tackle during the team’s mandatory minicamp, though the Bears will allow all three to compete for the role in training camp. Head coach Ben Johnson stated the obvious by saying, “the No. 1 job of an offensive tackle, doesn’t matter right or left, is to pass protect... and everything we can get out of them in the run game will be gravy on top of it.” Though he notably adds that the same is true “for all five guys up front.” His former Lions’ line fielded two top-tier pass protectors in LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell, though they maintained a league-high neutral game run-play rate (51.6 percent) last year. He will likely employ a similar approach this season.

Jones is going to undergo further tests, but according to Rapoport, the belief is Jones only fractured his fibula as opposed to his fibula and tibia. It’s a tough end to the season for Jones, who started all 12 games he appeared in this season after being limited to 11 games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury. Jones played one of his best seasons as a pro, allowing a career-low 19 pressures while surrendering five sacks and earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 80.8 — a career-best. Rapoport reports that Jones faces a four-month recovery but should be back “long before training camp.”

Jones went midway through the second quarter. He stayed on the field for a while to be checked out by trainers before riding the cart to the locker room. Jones gave the crowd a thumbs up on his way out, though he’s obviously done for the day. Left guard Teven Jenkins is also doubtful to return with a calf injury. As if things needed to get worse for the trailing Bears, they are now down to backups on the left side of their line.

As is left tackle Braxton Jones, who had nearly cleared the league’s concussion protocol on Friday but was assigned a questionable tag. With both linemen active, the Bears avoided a nightmare scenario for their struggling rookie quarterback.

Backup interior lineman Ryan Bates was ruled out while starting left tackle Braxton Jones is questionable. Stop us if you’ve heard this before. The Bears could be down multiple starters along the offensive line this week.

The good news is that starting tackles Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones have been cleared for Week 11. Both tackles missed Week 10 with knee injuries. Jenkins left that game with an ankle injury and did not return. He did not practice at any point this week.

Joining Jones on the upcoming inactives list are RT Darnell Wright (knee), backup LT Kiran Amegadjie (calf) and S Jaquan Brisker (concussion). The Patriots’ pass rush is among the league’s worst so the Bears’ passing game should theoretically be able to manage the situation. HC Matt Eberflus is running out of excuses. Star EDGE Montez Sweat (shin) and starting slot CB Kyler Gordon (hamstring) will play though.