While the Chicago Bears expect to have a competition at left tackle during training camp, the battle could be over before it really begins. Ben Johnson noted after OTAs that Braxton Jones is ahead of where he was at this point last season, and last year, Jones won the starting competition and opened the season as the Bears' left tackle.
The Chicago Bears trust a healthy Braxton Jones in 2026
The biggest difference Johnson sees between this version of Jones and the version from last year is health.
Jones fractured his fibula in 2024 and spent much of the 2025 offseason working his way back from the injury. While he was able to get back onto the field, he was not at his best physically.
At the same time, Jones knew he was playing for a contract and knew the Bears had drafted Ozzy Trapilo to challenge him. He was able to hold off Trapilo and win the starting job, but that came with a cost.
Instead of fully recovering, Jones pushed to get back on the field. While he opened the season as the starter, his play declined as the year went on, and he eventually suffered another season-ending injury.
That sequence is a big reason why the Bears entered this offseason with questions at left tackle.
Jones has shown he can be a capable starter when healthy, but his recent injury history made it difficult for the Bears to simply hand him the position. Those concerns only grew after Trapilo suffered an injury of his own and became unavailable for 2026.
That is why the Bears brought in Jedrick Wills and why Theo Benedet will also get a chance to compete for the job.
Still, Jones received the first look with the starters at OTAs.
He has the most experience in the offense, and while the other options bring talent, but they also bring uncertainty.
Wills is trying to establish himself with a new team, while Benedet is still working to prove he belongs in the conversation for meaningful snaps. Both players have ground to make up if they want to pass Jones on the depth chart.
Johnson's comments also suggest that the coaching staff sees a player who is physically in a much better place than he was a year ago.
That matters because Johnson trusted Jones to start Week 1 last season despite not being fully healthy. If Jones is now healthier, more comfortable, and moving better than he was at this time last year, it becomes easier to see why he is the early favorite.
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