With Braxton Jones on IR and Theo Benedet out, the Chicago Bears were down to their third option at left tackle just in time to take on the Pittsbugh Steelers' edge rusher duo of T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig.
Ozzy Trapilo entered the game with 41 snaps at offensive tackle this season, and 40 of those were at right tackle when he stepped in there during the Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. But to say the rookie second-round pick stepped up in his first start would be an understatement.
According to Pro Football Focus, Trapilo allowed just one pressure and no sacks of Caleb Williams on 41 pass blocking snaps against Pittsburgh on his way to earning an 84.6 pass blocking grade. His overall blocking grade (75.0) was also the best mark on the team for the game.
After the game, Trapilo was asked about his first NFL start.
"There's always a thought during the week, you never really know until right before", Trapilo said. "The preparation is all the same, you gotta prepare like you're gonna be out there no matter what.""
"Going there were definitely nerves, for my first start", Trapilo said. "But those kinda go away right after the first snap is done. At that point you're just kinda playing football, something I've done for a long time."
Early in training camp, Trapilo was part of the wide-open competition for the starting job at left tackle. He acknowledged how the game against the Steelers was something of a full circle moment, with the benefit of more practice work on the left side since training camp.
Ozzy Trapilo gets well-earned public praise for performance vs. Steelers
The short week ahead of playing the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday meant Bears' coordinators spoke to the media on Tuesday.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was of course asked about Trapilo, in terms of his growth since camp and his performance against the Steelers.
"I think Ozzy's grown a lot", Doyle said. "I was certainly happy with the way Ozzy played."
Doyle then got into the work Trapilo has put in, and how he has made himself ready to be called upon after losing the training camp battle at left tackle.
"It just goes to show you the kind of kid he is. Just to keep coming back to work, and continue to progress and get better."
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Trapilo's first start went great, and better than could've reasonably been expected going in under the circumstances. The praise he certainly earned from all around Halas Hall after that performance has now gone public via Doyle, ahead of another challenge against a tough Eagles' defensive front in Week 13.