Among the moves the Chicago Bears made, the one that got some head turns was the acquisition of offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
Wills is a massive risk for the Bears, as he sat out the entire 2025 season with an MCL injury. He decided to sit out the year to recover from the injury he sustained in 2024. Now back playing football, Wills told the media he is ready to play in 2026 and compete for the left tackle job.
"I’m coming in and just trying to prove what I can do, see where that takes me," Wills said via The Score's Chris Emma. "I’ve been working my a** off to get healthy. I got great confidence in what I can do."
Jedrick Wills Jr. is ready to play in 2026 for the Bears
Before joining the Bears, Wills was the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Throughout his first five seasons, he started 57 of 58 games for the Browns, mostly at left tackle.
It was the 2023 and 2024 seasons where Wills struggled to stay healthy and only played in 13 games. After the Browns didn't bring him back in 2025, Wills used that year to recover from his MCL injury and then signed with the Bears for a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
Entering his tenure in Chicago, Wills is going to battle with Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet for the starting left tackle job in 2026. Ozzy Trapilo was supposed to be the starter, but he is recovering from the injury he suffered back in the NFC Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers.
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Because Benedet and Jones have more experience in Bears head coach Ben Johnson's offense, Wills will be at a disadvantage, but he will have a chance to beat the odds and help the team out with depth on the offensive line.