As the Chicago Bears go through a second straight training camp trying to figure out their left tackle situation, options to fill the void and not worry about it long-term don't exist right now. Darnell Wright played the position some in college, but he has become one of the NFL's best right tackles (with a fresh new contract to prove it).
The idea of Wright, if not now then perhaps eventually, making the move to left tackle resurfaced recently. The idea is generally seen as unlikely to happen, now or ever. But the same thing would've probably been said a few years ago in Detroit, and Penei Sewell is making the move from right to left tackle this season.
Head coach Ben Johnson spoke to reporters before Thursday's training camp practice. In a rundown of developments since he last talked, he acknowledged Wright's new contract.
Ben Johnson puts idea of Darnell Wright moving to left tackle to rest once and for all
Johnson was asked about the possibility that Wright could eventually move to left tackle if a top-end player to protect Caleb Williams' blind side isn't acquired or developed. That's what happened with Johnson's former team, which drove Sewell's position move, as the Lions never came close to adding or cultivating a viable successor to Taylor Decker at left tackle.
"No, I don’t think that’s necessary". Johnson said. "I think pass rushers are equally good on both sides these days. I don’t subscribe to that viewpoint necessarily (where you need your best tackle to play left tackle). I think he does a really good job on the right side. He’s very comfortable over there, and we’ll continue to find that left tackle that helps complement our offense and does great things. I go back to--what do we look for first and foremost in our tackles? They need to be able to block a defensive end one-on-one on a consistent basis. That’s the starting point, and then everything else is really gravy on top of that.”
So there it is, right from the person who has the most prominent say-so in whatever the Bears do on the field. As long as Johnson is the head coach and Wright is on the roster, Wright will be the right tackle.
As Johnson noted, we're at a point where top pass rushers in the NFL go against both left and right tackles. While there will always be some level of premium placed on left tackles, in terms of importance and value reflected by hefty contracts for the best among them, right tackles are also getting their just due.
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What seem like concrete plans at one point in time can easily melt into change when circumstances open the door. So we should never say never when it comes to Wright eventually moving to left tackle for the Bears. Johnson has put the idea to bed as firmly as he can, though, and ever wavering from that would be a big surprise.
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