ESPN analyst has warm take on how key position for Bears will unfold this season

The Chicago Bears theoretically had a wide-open competition for the starting job at left tackle going into training camp. As camp and preseason games progressed, although the competition seemed to take shape, it proved to be just that — wide open.

This week on the "Mully and Haugh" show on 670 The Score, despite that perceived clarity, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was not ready to declare a starter at left tackle.

"I'm not in the business of talking about starters yet" Johnson said. "Next week we'll handle all of that......I want to keep the main thing the main thing, that's not to distract from the battle we've had at left tackle, I'm just not at the point to anoint anybody at any position."

On Thursday's edition of CHSN's "Big Pro Football Show", co-host Ruthie Polinsky asked ESPN's Courtney Cronin who the Bears' Week 1 starter at left tackle would be.

"Braxton Jones", Cronin said. "And it's the obvious answer here. He's been taking only first-team reps in games, in the preseason, for the last couple weeks, he's only been playing with the first-team unit. I think it was a wake up call for him, maybe this was some sort of motivational tactic from the coaching, to get more out of him."

"Theo Benedet entered that mix really late in the process, I don't know if he ever a real fair shot to get that."

Cronin went on to say how Johnson's unwillingness to name a starting left tackle serves as an "indictment on the situation."

Courtney Cronin offers lukewarm take on Bears' left tackle situation

Polinsky confirmed that Cronin saying Jones will be the Bears' Week 1 starter at left tackle is the consensus sentiment, on-set and off.

Then, Polinsky posed the interesting question to Cronin about who the Bears' starting left tackle will be in Week 18.

"Player not on the roster", Cronin said. "I'm with Clay (co-host Clay Harbor). I think they've gotta make a trade at the deadline."

Cronin thinks Jones will not stick as the guy protecting Calen Williams' blind side all season, either due to injury (as happened last season) or underperformance. Rookie Ozzie Trapilo could be the answer at left tackle in 2026/beyond, but it's hard to see him being ready to step in there by season's end. Benedet is easy to root for, but his greatest value might be as the swing tackle off the bench.

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There's a chance the Bears' left tackle in 2026 is not on the roster right now. So it's only a slight stretch to say the starter at the end of the season also isn't currently on the roster. And with that, Cronin's take registers as warm, not fiery hot.