Against all odds, the Chicago Bears might have Ozzy Trapilo back on the field way sooner than expected. He was initially expected to miss most — if not all — of the season, but he's significantly ahead of schedule and already participating in individual drills.
That said, the team must be extremely careful with his recovery, and they'll likely need someone to step up while he's working his way back. Thus far, all of the potential options have failed to make a strong impression.
That's why the Bears might set their sights on the AFC North, hoping Dawand Jones doesn't make the Cleveland Browns' roster. While failing to make the team clearly isn't an encouraging sign, he might be the perfect low-risk/high-reward pickup for Ben Johnson's team.
The Bears could use someone like Dawand Jones
Jones is a massive specimen. Standing at 6-foot-8 and 374 pounds, he's shown flashes of strong play at both tackle spots, and with his pass-protection skills, he might even be a jumbo guard in certain situations.
The problem is he's suffered three season-ending injuries in as many years in the league, so the Browns clearly can't bank on him being healthy for a full season. They've transitioned to a new offensive line, and the new coaching staff seems to favor rookie OL Austin Barber for the swing tackle role.
As things stand now, Braxton Jones should be in line to start at left tackle. That's the same Braxton Jones who lost his starting spot last season and who has struggled with penalties and subpar play this preseason, even against backups.
Then there's Jedrick Wills, who has failed to hold his own against third-stringers and might not even make the roster; former afterthought Kiran Amegadije; and Theo Benedet. That's clearly not ideal to keep Caleb Williams out of harm's way, even if it's just a temporary move.
At least, the Bears know that Trapilo will be back on the field sooner rather than later, but he's still a second-year player who wasn't even a full-time starter as a rookie. They must ease him back to the field, and none of the current options are particularly impressive.
Again, not many teams have found success by digging into the Browns' trash bin, but Jones' physical tools and extensive experience on both sides of the line make him a cheap pickup worth considering. They only need him to be there for as long as Trapilo works his way back, and he can be a situational depth piece for this offense.
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