For a second straight training camp and preseason, the Chicago Bears are trying to figure out who their Week 1 left tackle will be. If not for Ozzy Trapilo's torn patellar tendon in last year's playoffs, it wouldn't be a thing. Whoever it is is really just filling in until Trapilo is ready after his quick return to the practice field.
If only by default, Braxton Jones is regarded as the favorite to protect Caleb Williams' blindside until Trapilo is ready. The second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals stood as an opportunity for Jones to leave no doubt that he should be the guy.
That, to put it mildly, did not happen.
Jones picked up a holding penalty that negated a 10-yard run by Roschon Johnson on the opening drive for the Bears' offense. On the next drive, he got bull-rushed by Bengals reserve defensive end Cedric Johnson as Case Keenum completed a pass to J.P. Richardson.
Jones' competition didn't fare much better. Theo Benedet, Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie did not seize the opportunity in front of them, even going against Cincinnati's reserves, though Wills and Amegadjie were effectively removed from the left tackle competition before the game.
Bears may have to place a Hail Mary call to Taylor Decker
Back in March, after announcing he would not be retiring, veteran left tackle Taylor Decker asked the Detroit Lions for his release and was granted it.
In a subsequent interview with Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network, Decker revealed that Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who, of course, is a former Lions' assistant, had reached out to him before Dan Campbell, etc. did.
Rogers subsequently relayed how Decker also made it clear where he stood on playing for certain teams, even if it was an obvious detriment to his job prospects.
"I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears or Packers", Rogers said, on the "Lions Collective" podcast. That’s the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him."
With that sentiment, any idea of Decker signing with the Bears went away quickly. But here, as fans approach late August, he remains unemployed. If he wants to play this season, and there absolutely has to be a question there on some level, his options are few.
A seemingly tailor-made opportunity (pun intended) with the Washington Commanders, after they lost Laremy Tunsil, has not come to fruition. A potential opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams, with Alaric Jackson seemingly in line for league discipline, has not gotten traction.
In light of still having no great solution at left tackle to start the season (at minimum), Johnson may be compelled to call Decker himself, just to see if there is any change in tune about playing for a Lions' division rival.
Read more: Ben Johnson made his Roschon Johnson feelings crystal clear in Bears-Bengals game
If Decker is still committed to the "no NFC North teams" bit, then the Bears will stay where they currently are at left tackle, barring the pursuit of any other options. If he's willing to at least come in for a visit/workout, the call will be worth it to see whether he's a viable option fully.
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