If things couldn't get any worse on the injury front for the Chicago Bears for their Week 12 Pittsburgh Steelers matchup, they just did.
Just 90 minutes before the Bears take on the Steelers at Soldier Field, the inactive list was released, and it was more bad news. This time, it was on the offensive line, with starting left tackle Theo Benedet not playing in the game.
Benedet was listed as questionable due to very little practice time this week with the quad injury. Rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo will be getting the start at left tackle.
Here are the other inactives for the Bears in Week 12:
- Case Keenum, Third QB
- Travis Homer, RB
- T.J. Edwards, LB
- Jonathan Ford, DL
- Jahdae Walker, WR
- Noah Sewell, LB
- Theo Benedet, LT
Chicago can't escape the injury bug
The Bears are already struggling with injuries as they will be without their top three linebackers on the team, Tremaine Edmunds (who was just placed on IR), Edwards, and Sewell. They are also without cornerback Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, who are still on IR and hope to be off it for the team's Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Add Dayo Odeyingbo in there with his season-ending injury a few weeks ago, and that would be multiple starters out for Chicago.
Braxton Jones had started the season as the starting left tackle before getting replaced by Benedet. Jones is still on IR with his knee injury, leaving Trapilo to make the start.
This will be Trapilo's first career start, as he got extended playing time at right tackle in the Week 4 Las Vegas Raiders game after Darnell Wright was hurt and Benedet initially started there, then moved to left tackle to replace Jones. Trapilo impressed in the Raiders game as he did not allow Maxx Crosby to get a sack.
Read more: Bears breakout star has one last shot vs. Steelers to prove he's a starter
It's a big opportunity for the rookie to prove that he can play and start for this Bears team in the future. After the up-and-down season for the rookies in the Bears' 2025 class, general manager Ryan Poles will have his eyes on the left side of the line.