When we think of Chicago Bears players who are under the most pressure this season, a few names come easily.
The core part of the offseason plan was centered around quarterback Caleb Williams, so he has to take a notable step in Year 2.
Running back D'Andre Swift stayed healthy all last season, but otherwise he had a disappointing first season as a Bear and he needs to step up.
Safety Jaquan Brisker lost all but five games last season to his third concussion in as many NFL seasons, and staying healthy this season will be critical for him in a contract year.
There are some others who are under varying degrees of pressure, particularly with a new standard being set by Ben Johnson and his coaching staff, but you get the point. There are still others who may fall below the radar in the big picture of "pressure" or "something to prove" this season, at least for now.
Bears player tabbed by ESPN analyst as under pressure is ultimately pretty obvious
ESPN's Bill Barnwell has put together a list of 15 NFL players, coaches and general managers who are under the most pressure in the 2025 season. A Bears' player made it, but not the one (or any of the ones) that come to mind easily: left tackle Braxton Jones.
"Jones isn't the first name mentioned when it comes to the Bears and how they've built their roster, but he might be the most vulnerable player in their lineup. Inheriting the starting left tackle job as a Day 3 pick during his rookie season, he was the first player drafted after pick No. 150 to start a full season at left tackle since 1986. He has managed to exceed expectations without ever convincing as a surefire building block on the blind side of his quarterbacks."
"Having made major investments nearly everywhere else on the offense, the one position the Bears haven't addressed over the past two offseasons is left tackle. Jones has missed 11 games over the past two seasons with injuries, but the only move Chicago made at tackle this offseason was to use the No. 56 overall pick on Ozzy Trapilo, who was a right tackle for his final two college seasons after struggling on the left side earlier in his career. Likewise, 2023 first-rounder Darnell Wright spent the vast majority of his college career playing right tackle, and while Wright has been Chicago's best lineman over the past two seasons, moving him to the blind side would be a major adjustment."
"Jones dealt with an ankle injury over the summer, leaving second-year swing lineman Kiran Amegadjie to get reps at left tackle during OTAs. If Jones can stay healthy and lock down the left side of the line in the final season of his rookie deal, the riches earned by similarly inconsistent (Dan Moore Jr.) or inexperienced (Jaylon Moore) left tackles in free agency suggest he would be in line for a deal north of $20 million per season. The pending free agent could leverage the open market against a front office that has been generous with offers to core players. If Jones can't stay healthy or loses the job to Amegadjie, Wright or Trapilo while settling into a swing role, he is probably looking at a fraction of that amount in free agency."
Jones has been fine since stepping in at left tackle for the Bears as a rookie in 2022, and the ankle injury he suffered late last season is no longer an issue as training camp gets rolling. So what has been lined up to be an open competition for the starting job at left tackle during camp is indeed an equal, unencumbered competition right from the word go.
Read more: Caleb Williams is not shying away from some big goals for 2025
Jones operates in the gray area of being a suitable starter at a key position on the offensive line, while also being very replaceable if someone (Trapilo?) can be found to replace him. Add in the layer of being in a contract year, and the Bears' incumbent left tackle is under a ton of pressure to not only win the job protecting Williams' blind side, but keep it all season without injury or performance issues.