Training camp is here for the Chicago Bears, with rookies reporting on July 19 and veterans reporting on July 22. It was a less than ideal year to have three second-round draft picks, as guaranteed money for picks in that round was haggled over around the league. But the Bears got that business taken care of in the days before rookies had to report to camp.
Now eyes will turn toward notable position battles at Bears camp with the first full team practice on July 23. In a more general sense, a remodeled offensive line will have its first opportunity to gel as a unit.
The struggles Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had as a rookie last season are well-known. Perhaps most notably he took a league high 68 sacks, despite Pro Football Focus grading the Bears' offensive line as a top-10 pass blocking unit. The level at which he was pressured and sacked was the biggest reflection of a dysfunctional offense, as Williams' struggles with pocket awareness and a high level of unblocked pressure created a disastrous mix.
The biggest position battle at Bears' training camp is now crystal clear
Kevin Patra of NFL.com has offered what he sees as the biggest position battle for Bears' training camp.
"The biggest camp battle in Chicago could be the left tackle job. Braxton Jones fractured his ankle in December and didn't participate this offseason. Jones was solid in 2024, allowing 26 pressures in 12 games. The injury could open the door for Ozzy Trapilo to swipe the gig, particularly if Jones isn't healthy to open the season."
During a recent appearance on "SportsCenter", ESPN Bears' beat reporter Courtney Cronin also pointed to the left tackle spot as the biggest position battle in training camp.
"It's the left tackle spot that's going to be the biggest position battle during training camp", Cronin said. "They have Kiran Amegadjie, last year's third-round pick. They've got Ozzie Trapilo, who they drafted out of Boston College this year, they love him......The caveat here, don't forget about Braxton Jones, the incumbent left tackle who had ankle surgery in the offseason."
Over three seasons since the Bears took him in the fifth-round of the 2022 draft, Jones has been objectively fine at left tackle. But he suffered an ankle injury late last season, leaving Trapilo and Amegadjie to split reps at left tackle during OTAs and minicamp.
Where Jones is at health-wise is unclear, for now, but getting Trapilo signed to his rookie contract has cleared the way for a legit competition at left tackle. It feels unlikely Amegadjie would win the job if Jones and/or Trapilo are healthy, but he should not be discounted as a factor in the competition.
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Protecting Williams better was a clear focus for the Bears this offseason, as it needed to be. Four of the five starting offensive line spots are locked in right now, but the one that matters the most will be decided via what is lined up to be a wide-open position battle during camp.