Braxton

Jones

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the deal is worth “up to” $10 million. It doesn’t necessarily exclude the Bears from taking a tackle in the draft, but it does allow them to kick that can down the road if they want to spend their capital elsewhere. Jones started four games at left tackle to open the 2025 season before a knee injury effectively ended his season. He was designated to return from injured reserve ahead of the playoffs but was never officially activated. The 2026 season will be a prove-it year for Jones.

Jones practiced in full but apparently still isn’t ready to return from his knee injury. In his continued absence, the Bears are turning to guard Joe Thuney on Caleb Williams’ blindside. That didn’t go too well for the Chiefs last season, but we digress.

Starting LT Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon in the Bears’ Wild Card win over the Packers, ending his season. Jones has not yet been officially activated from injured reserve, but his full practice participation is a good sign. If activated, he will compete with OL Theo Benedet, who manned the left tackle spot earlier this season.

Gordon got in a full session — everybody but Chicago’s three concussed rule-outs got in a full session today — and appears likely to give it a go against the Packers. Gordon has played just three games this year and would have to be considered at least a slight re-injury risk. If healthy, though, his return would be huge for Chicago. Fellow designated-to-return-from-IR-on-Tuesday pal OT Braxton Jones is also officially questionable for Saturday, but wouldn’t figure to have as big of a role as Gordon.

His 21-day practice window is open, though this is pretty clearly a four-day runway to get him ready for Saturday. Gordon has played just three games this year, Weeks 6 and 7, as well as Week 13, while struggling through a long-term injury. If healthy, he’d be a huge addition. The key words there are “if healthy.” The Bears also opened OT Braxton Jones’ 21-day window, though he might only make the roster as a backup at this point.

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.”