The Chicago Bears are in an all-too-familiar situation with injuries, but this one might prompt the team to make a move it hasn't made all season.
In the 31-27 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card game, the Bears lost their starting left tackle, Ozzy Trapilo, to injury and won't be back the rest of the season. Theo Benedet took over for Trapilo to finish the contest.
It appears now that the Bears might not go with Benedet at left tackle, as The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs reports that the team is considering starting left guard Joe Thuney moving over to left tackle for the NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. CHGO's Adam Jahns added that if the Bears go with Thuney at left tackle, it would be Jordan McFadden at left guard.
As @BradBiggs said, the Bears are looking at moving Joe Thuney to left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo out.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) January 17, 2026
My understanding is that left guard options start with Jordan McFadden.
So the Bears line could be: Thuney-McFadden-Dalman-Jackson-Wright vs the Rams on Sunday.
Bears considering massive change on the offensive line before Rams game
Thuney, along with center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson, has started every game on the Bears' interior offensive line this season. This would signal a massive change to the offensive line.
It's telling that the Bears are considering a change like that, as it shows they don't have confidence in either Benedet or Braxton Jones at left tackle. Jones started the season at left tackle before Benedet replaced him with Trapilo, finishing the season there. After spending most of the season on IR, Jones was recently activated for the playoffs.
Thuney has been known for playing just guard throughout his career in the NFL. He has played at right guard, but moving from guard to tackle is a dramatic change, especially with just a week to prepare for a playoff game.
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Whether the Bears will go through with it is one big question going into the contest. This is the type of decision that could make or break a team trying to make the NFC Championship game for the first time in 15 years.