After weeks of speculation and major concerns, the Chicago Bears have finally announced their starting left tackle for the season opener. As expected, veteran Braxton Jones got the nod in one of the most underwhelming position battles in the league.
While this was expected, there was a time when it seemed that Jones' starting status was in serious jeopardy. The veteran left tackle even ceded some first-team snaps to players who ultimately didn't make the 53-man roster. That speaks volumes about the state of the position.
That's why Bears fans shouldn't sweat this decision that much. Yes, it's not that encouraging, but it's clearly just a temporary move until Ozzy Trapilo is back to full strength. Once that happens, Jones will go back to riding the pine as he should.
The Bears will start Ozzy Trapilo as soon as they possibly can
Trapilo's recovery has been nothing short of a miracle. The rookie suffered a season-ending injury so late in the campaign that all signs pointed to him missing most — if not all — of the season. Yet, somehow, some way, he avoided starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
The Bears will obviously err on the side of caution with their prized youngster, more so knowing that he has the makings of their left tackle of the future. That said, he doesn't need to have a 21-day practice window or wait until Week 5 to play. In fact, knowing that he avoided a stint on the PUP list hints at him being on the field much sooner than that.
So, yeah, it's obviously concerning to know that Braxton Jones will be back as Caleb Williams' blindside protector, but it's not the end of the world. While not a star by any means, this team could've done much worse at the position, and he has plenty of experience as a starter.
The Bears have spent major resources in making sure to keep their star quarterback out of harm's way, and they've already been on both sides of the spectrum. They won't rush Trapilo back into action, but they also won't just sit around and watch while Williams runs for his life on every drop-back.
This game has gone a long way throughout the course of the years, but one fundamental truth remains: Whoever controls the line of scrimmage controls the game, and barring a setback or a major surprise, the Bears will have their brick wall of a left tackle back in the fold sooner rather than later.
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