The Chicago Bears looked like a Super Bowl contender in the preseason debut vs. the Cleveland Browns. Then again, it was Week 1 of the preseason, it was mostly against second and third-stringers, and the starters didn't even play.
However, that doesn't mean this game was meaningless. If anything, it helped plenty of guys make a strong push to start or make the roster, although some others — just a handful, fortunately — didn't do themselves any favors.
Notably, that was the case with Jedrick Wills, who struggled mightily against the team that drafted him. Even against backups, he didn't look like what this team needs at left tackle, and he may now be hanging by a thread.
The Bears can't trust Jedrick Wills as their left tackle
Right before the two-minute warning, Browns DE Julian Okwara blew past Willis and got to Tyson Bagent; he even ripped his helmet off. Then, on the very next play, Wills got beaten again, leading to an interception. It was a terrible sequence that may have sealed his fate with the organization.
The Bears were in a tough spot at left tackle this offseason. On the one hand, they seem to have their guy for the future in Ozzy Trapilo, so there was no need to spend big bucks for an injury replacement. On the other hand, they didn't have many proven options.
That led them right to Wills, a player known for his inconsistent play and unfulfilled potential. He entered the league with plenty of hype as a first-round pick in 2020, making 58 appearances (57 starts) for the Browns.
He didn't play last season while he nursed a major knee injury. Also, as a guy on a one-year deal, he wasn't necessarily a lock to make the roster. However, with Braxton Jones also struggling, it looked like there was an opening for him to make a strong case for himself.
As things stand now, it looks like Kiran Amegadjie has a much better shot at keeping Jones on his toes, but it's hard to believe someone will beat him for the starting left tackle job in Trapilo's lengthy absence.
The Bears would actually save $1 million by cutting ties with Wills, according to Over The Cap. They'll give him more opportunities to prove his worth in the preseason, but he might be facing an uphill battle after such a discouraging debut.
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