Has Braxton Jones already won a starting job with Chicago Bears?
We have not even got to the first preseason game, but the way that things are trending in one position battle is already locked up. We were not sure who would start at left tackle for the Chicago Bears just a few months ago. The options were Teven Jenkins, Larry Borom, and Braxton Jones, but Borom quickly shifted from left to right, and Jenkins has been working back from an injury. During OTAs, Braxton Jones was first-team by default.
In the meantime, the Bears signed Riley Reiff, an indication to many that the days of Jones starting were over. The team started with Reiff easing in on the left side, but quickly moved him to right tackle.
Reiff noted that he expects the shift to be permanent now.
#Bears OT Riley Reiff originally said he preferred playing left tackle since that is where he has played the most, but now expects to play RT this year. He is impressed by Braxton Jones.
— Mark Carman (@thecarm) August 9, 2022
In reality, this probably says less about Jones beating out Reiff, and more about Jones beating out Borom. They know that Reiff may be better on the left side, but they also know that a combination with Jones on the left side is much better than Borom on the right, and the drop-off in switching Reiff to the right side is worth it.
This makes sense when you think about where Ryan Poles stand on what he inherited. Borom fell to the 5th round for a reason and was not outstanding last year. Poles likely was not high on him in the draft, and nothing he did so far has changed that.
Meanwhile, he drafted Jones because Jones checks the boxes he wants. He signed Reiff because checked the boxes he wants. The new offensive line coach signed off on both moves, and not the Borom pick.
Larry Borom can continue to grind and if he shows out better than Braxton Jones, they will surely move Reiff back to the left side. Still, while Reiff can switch sides in a time of need, the veteran likely would want to know where he is starting so that he can use as much time as possible to acclimate.
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That is probably why the Chicago Bears told him that unless something wild happens, they plan to start him at right tackle. With that in mind, yes Braxton Jones may have wrapped up a starting job before his first preseason game.