The Chicago Bears have a star in the making, yet they refuse to unleash him. Ozzy Trapilo proved to be the right guy for the job when he took the reins at left tackle last season before his season-ending knee injury.
The second-year tackle was expected to miss most (if not all) of the season, but he made a miraculous recovery. Even so, Ben Johnson and his coaching staff continue to take things slowly with him, only using him as an additional blocker.
But now, with Braxton Jones out for the season and Theo Benedet dealing with a shoulder injury, it's officially time they give Trapilo an opportunity to show (again) why he's the undisputed best guy for the job.
The Chicago Bears must let Ozzy Trapilo start at left tackle
Benedet reportedly suffered the injury at some point in the win over the Seattle Seahawks, and he was listed as a non-participant on the team's latest injury report. Even if he does suit up, he might not be at full strength.
The Bears are about to face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line that can bring the heat in the trenches. As solid as their offensive line is, they will have their hands full with a superstar like Vita Vea and the rising Rueben Bain Jr., and they don't want someone banged up keeping Caleb Williams out of harm's way.
Keeping Trapilo on a pitch count made sense to a degree. Just because he managed to avoid starting the season on Injured Reserve didn't mean he was ready for a full workload right out of the gate; we get that.
But what more does the team need to give its former second-round pick a long leash? He's already earned his stripes, and even if that weren't the case, they must see what they have in their hands with him.
The Bears have invested heavily in dominating the trenches on both sides of the field. They've also watched Caleb Williams be the most-sacked quarterback in the league as a rookie and have a clean pocket with their big additions.
They already have a superstar at right tackle in Darnell Wright, and Joe Thuney might be the best left guard in the past decade. Now, it's time to round things up with a mauling blindside protector who has already proven to be a special type of athlete.
There's no need to overthink this: Let Trapilo cook.
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