Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson noted that he would like for the left tackle position to have some more clarity. However, as the team gets into the second week of the preseason, nobody has emerged, and now the team is going to try a few more things.
Ben Johnson Makes Chicago Bears Left Tackle Plan Clear
Johnson noted that because Braxton Jones is now healthy, the plan is for him to slot back in with the first team on offense. However, Theo Benedet, who has been working as the backup right tackle, is now going to get work on the left side as the backup left tackle.
With Jones out and Benedet on the right side, the team had been letting Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills get chances at left tackle. Amegadjie started in the preseason opener, and the two split every quarter. Amegadjie played 34 snaps while Wills played 30.
Neither of them did enough to impress Johnson, and now he is moving them over to the right side.
The reasoning is clear for Johnson. He wanted Benedet to have experience on both sides, because the third tackle will have to fill in for both on game days if needed.
So, while the other two competed, Benedet got experience on the other side. Now, Benedet gets his chance to compete. That means the other two have to get work on the right side, just in case either of them ends up being the swing tackle.
With that in mind, the timeline could be the next week or so, as they let each of them have enough time to adjust. That means there is a strong chance the Bears head into the last week of the preseason with an unresolved left tackle room.
The only potential clarity we did get is that Jones has a strong chance to land the spot in Week 1. He had been working with the first unit before his injury. The other two had chances, but he came back and immediately stepped in with the first unit.
Jones has not been working on the right side like the others will. There is always the chance they move him to that side eventually. However, as of now, it appears to be Benedet, Wills, and Amegadjie fighting for the chance to knock Jones off, who is the current leader.
We will see when or if Ozzy Trapilo changes things in practice.
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