The Chicago Bears left tackle picture is starting to get a little clearer before the team's first preseason game. Head coach Ben Johnson gave a little insight into what the team's plans will be at the position during the preseason opener, and it does help highlight where the team stands at the position.
Chicago Bears Make Left Tackle Plans Clear for Preseason Opener
Johnson said that the team plans to start third-year tackle Kiran Amegadjie for the Bears preseason opener. However, Amegadjie will be in a firm platoon and will split each quarter with veteran Jedrick Wills. Amegadjie will get the first and third quarters, and Wills will get the second and fourth.
Johnson noted that Braxton Jones will miss the game. The team is sitting a handful of starters, including quarterback Caleb Williams. However, Jones is not missing because he locked down the starting job. He has a knee injury that flared up recently.
So, he is not going to suit up for the game due to the injury. The Bears' plan is to get information on these two tackles in the first game. Then, they can mix in Jones and see how he compares to the other two as he gets healthy.
Johnson made it clear that Jones is firmly in the mix, and his absence did not push things for him in one way or the other.
Still, without Williams in there, the Bears' starting definition just means he is first in the rotation.
The other notable takeaway from this development is that Theo Benedet will not get any chances to play left tackle. Benedet started in eight games for the Bears in 2025 at left tackle.
However, the team views him more as a swing tackle than a legitimate starter. They see him as someone who can play both right and left tackle. So, while he has experience on the left side and competition is going on, he is working on the right side.
This is good because it locks him onto the roster. It is bad because he is fourth in the running to start at left tackle.Still, if an injury were to occur in the game, Benedet would likely be the active player who would slide over.
The plan for the Bears on the right side is likely to start Benedet and play him for the first half. Then, rookie UDFA Mason Murphy can finish the game.
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