The Chicago Bears kept their season alive with a comeback 31-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, but the victory came at a cost. The Bears lost T.J. Edwards to a fractured fibula in the first half but Chicago also got hit along the offensive line when Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon in the fourth quarter according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Both injuries will knock each starter out for the remainder of the playoffs, but Trapilo’s injury re-opens the uncertainty around the left tackle position. After a season filled with ups and downs, losing Trapilo represents another low point on the blindside but could open an avenue for Braxton Jones to return from injured reserve and perhaps earn one more year in Chicago.
Braxton Jones Could Make a Case for 2026 Return After Ozzy Trapilo’s Injury
Theo Benedet is expected to get the start in Trapilo’s absence but Jones could be an important depth piece for the remainder of the Bears’ playoff run. The 26-year-old had been a serviceable starter for the first three years of his NFL career coming out of Southern Utah, but an ankle injury that ended his 2024 season lingered into the offseason and put him behind Trapilo during training camp until the rookie regressed in the preseason.
Jones still could not take advantage of the early-season opportunity. In 210 snaps this season, he’s posted a career low 55.5 overall grade and has struggled in pass protection, allowing 15 pressures including two sacks on 136 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus.
This has also been influenced by a knee injury that landed Jones on injured in October and once again in December, but after having his practice window opened and practicing in full last week, there’s a good chance he could be placed on the active roster again.
This makes the next few games an interesting situation for Jones. While he may be the backup, he could be thrown onto the field if Benedet struggles. That’s a possible scenario considering Benedet lost his job by allowing 12 pressures and committing three penalties during a three-game stretch between a Week 9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and a Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s also why Trapilo earned the starting job in the second half of the year despite being moved to his natural position of right tackle earlier this season.
If Jones sees the field, he may also have a chance to extend his time in Chicago. According to The Cleveland Clinic, a ruptured patellar tendon comes with a 6-to-12 month recovery time, which could have Trapilo back by OTAs or linger into the start of the 2026 season. If the recovery goes into the back end of the timetable, the Bears would need an effective insurance policy and they could invest in Jones at a low price considering how much he’s fallen off.
It brings everything together for Jones in the wake of Trapilo’s injury and could go a long way toward establishing where he plays next season.