The Chicago Bears started the 2025 season with an 0-2 record but found their footing, as they secured two straight wins. They had their bye in Week 5 and feel refreshed as they travel to play the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.
Despite playing in just four games this season, it's clear that guard Joe Thuney has been an excellent addition. This offseason, Chicago traded a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Thuney, as they looked to revamp their offensive line. They then gave him a two-year, $35 million extension, and he's slated to make $51 million over the next three years. Nonetheless, he has been a great addition up front for this team.
Joe Thuney Has Been a Great Addition for Bears
Through the first month of the season, Thuney has a 63.6 overall grade (36th among 104 graded guards) and a 78.3 pass-blocking grade (11th among graded guards) on Pro Football Focus. Across 166 pass blocking snaps, he hasn't allowed a sack with one hit and four total pressures allowed.
Last season, Chicago led the NFL in sacks allowed (68), and this season, they've gone in the opposite direction. After five weeks, they've allowed just seven sacks. To further showcase that the protection upfront has been better, Williams averages 3.17 seconds in terms of time to throw the ball, which is the highest in the league.
The USC product has been known for holding onto the ball a tick longer, but this season it hasn't affected him, in large part due to the protection upfront. Thuney is one of five players that is doing is job, but it's already paying off for this team.
Despite Thuney being 32 years old, he is still a productive player for this team. He came over from the Chiefs, where he won three Super Bowls and was a four-time All-Pro there. Being in a system led by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes allowed him to play countless high-stakes games. Not only have they played in them, but they have won the majority of them.
That experience and reps are valuable and will pay dividends for Chicago. While there are still 13 games left on the schedule, Thuney seems to be a mainstay up front for the Bears. It was a priority to get that unit stabilized, and the addition of Thuney helped get that unit over the hump.