The Chicago Bears may still be doing their homework on the left tackle in the draft, but Ben Johnson just made one thing clear: Braxton Jones isn't going anywhere quietly. The Bears conducted a left tackle competition in the lead-up to the season last year, and the clear winner was Ozzy Trapilo. However, a ruptured patellar tendon in the Wild Card game is going to cause him to miss almost the entire 2026 season.
That's where Braxton Jones comes in. With rumors flying about that the Bears may be addressing the need at left tackle through the draft, the Bears signed Jones to a one-year deal worth $5 million. Though the fanbase is skeptical of Jones to begin with, the Bears need a body to fill that gap until Trapilo returns. Coach Johnson had good things to say about Jones despite public doubt.
“I don’t think what he put on tape early last season was reflective of what he’s capable of, especially coming off that prior injury," Johnson said via CHGO. "We felt like there was more there than what we saw. Now, he looks like a completely different guy physically, and he’s determined to get back to that trajectory.”
Ben Johnson sees a different version of Braxton Jones than fans do
Johnson's words clearly reflect the organization's belief in Jones, not necessarily just Johnson. If they didn't have that belief, they wouldn't have agreed to give him $5 million. It's possible the Bears merely want Jones to be a bridge guy, to help them return to when Trapilo rebounds, but as the Bears expect this to be most of the 2026 season, that may be a long bridge.
Jones is looking to keep his job and earn his place, and that's exactly what Johnson is referring to when he says, describing his physical changes. Johnson even refers to Jones as "yoked up", referring to his muscular stature. This signals urgency in the left tackle, especially when this could be his big opportunity to show the greater NFL that he deserves a place among the linemen of the league.
Read more: Bears are built for the future (but may be exposing Caleb Williams in 2026)
The Bears may still explore the position, but the reality is already set. Braxton Jones is the answer right now, whether fans trust it or not. What he does with that opportunity will determine how long that answer lasts.