Bears Admit Rookie Started to Decline as Preseason Went on

The Chicago Bears believe one of their prized rookies hit a rookie wall at some point.
Aug 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
Aug 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images | Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears went to great lengths to bolster their offensive line this season. They needed to improve their blindside protection, and their three-man race for the starting left tackle spot was one of the biggest talking points of the offseason.

Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo looked like a strong candidate to beat incumbent starter Braxton Jones for the job, with second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie also in the mix. Fast forward to today, and that may not be the case anymore.

Ryan Poles Admits Ozzy Trapilo Hit a 'Rookie Wall'

Trapilo reportedly got off to a strong start to training camp, but the Bears ultimately chose to move him back to right tackle, the position he played at Boston College. When asked about that, GM Ryan Poles admitted that he struggled to adapt to the other side of the line:

"I did like when we he moved to the right, I think he settled in," Poles said. "It looked very natural; his hands use, his feet. But it looked like that when he started at left early; I think he just hit a rookie wall in the middle of the camp there when things got a little out of place, and I think he just needed to settle in and go back to watch that KC game."

As things stand now, Jones will most likely get the nod at left tackle, with Trapilo either getting occasional snaps behind him or starting at right tackle. The Bears also have Darnell Wright in the mix, and Theo Benedet got some snaps ahead of the struggling Amegadije.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the team has given up on Trapilo or that he's no longer a candidate to take over at left tackle at some point. This is just a natural part of the process, and he wouldn't be the first rookie to go through some growing pains.

The Bears should continue to work on his development and make sure to put him in a position to succeed as opposed to rushing him into the fire. Also, they need to keep Caleb Williams out of harm's way after watching him be the most-sacked quarterback in the league last season.

Expectations are high as they've ever been ahead of Ben Johnson's first year in charge, and the offense is expected to take a massive leap after a disappointing rookie season by their prized young quarterback.

More Chicago Bears News and Rumors: