Everyone at this point knows the Chicago Bears have an open competition at the left tackle position. This is the second year in a row that head coach Ben Johnson has had to deal with this situation.
During his first year with the team, Braxton Jones was named the starter six days before the team's Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. So if the Bears can decide before then, they will be “ahead of schedule.”
But left tackle isn't the only position still needing a starter. Johnson pointed out that safety is another position up for grabs. The spot opposite rookie Dillon Thieneman.
Bears need to figure out a plan at safety first
Although two starting spots are up for grabs, the safety position is far more of a mystery than left tackle. It would be shocking if Jones didn't start Week 1. He hasn't been far better than his teammates Jedrick Wills Jr., Kiran Amegadjie, or Theo Benedet.
Jones is just the tallest tree in a short forest. That will remain true until Ozzy Trapilo can return, but at this point, he has only participated in individual drills in practice.
When Johnson was asked about the left tackle competition earlier this week, he voluntarily ended his response by mentioning that safety is still up for grabs. That tells me the Bears’ head coach and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen aren't sold on defensive back Cam Lewis.
The veteran told reporters this week that he's had an “alright” camp and isn't satisfied with his play so far. Lewis wants to make more plays on the ball, and he will need to if he wants to win the starting safety job.
His main competition is veteran Xavier Woods, who is entering his 10th year in the league. Woods signed a one-year deal earlier in the month, but that hasn't prevented him from making plays. The veteran safety intercepted quarterback Case Keenum to end Tuesday's practice.
Johnson has had uncertainty at the left tackle position in the past, and the team can lean on last year's experience to help with the current situation. The Bears had two veteran safeties in Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker entering the season, and they played in all 17 regular-season games.
That position had stability, and Byard finished with the most interceptions in the NFL.
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Thieneman is starting to come along, playing faster with a better understanding of Dennis Allen's defense. However, he's still a rookie, and he doesn’t know who will play opposite him in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, leaving the team with 17 days before the regular season officially kicks off.
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