Despite the headache of not having Ozzy Trapilo as the Chicago Bears' starting left tackle, things seem to be going well for him. In fact, he might be a better player for it.
During the NFC Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers, Trapilo ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee, missing the Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams. He has not played a game this season, but has slowly worked his way back on the field with limited practice time.
It looks like things are trending in the right direction for him, to the point that Trapilo might be better than he was last year. A scary thought for more NFL teams, but music to the Bears fans' ears.
Ozzy Trapilo has used rehab to become a better player for the Bears
During his press conference on Wednesday, Bears head coach Ben Johnson spoke with the media and was asked about Trapilo and his progress. Johnson shared good news: Trapilo is cleared to play in full pads for the first time this week, and his rehab went so well that, in ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin's own words, he has "expanded physical capabilities" in his body.
"I think he still is gaining confidence in just being able to put all of his weight in it and being a powerful player and yet, in some ways, he's a little bit more flexible and fluid than he was before, which is amazing," Johnson said.
Last season, Trapilo earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 70, ranking 36th among 90 offensive tackles. He also had a pass-blocking grade of 71.5 and a run-blocking grade of 63.6.
Trapilo came in last year, starting in Week 12, after replacing Theo Benedet, a great run blocker who struggles in pass protection. That's where Trapilo helped in both ways while still being an effective run blocker for the Bears.
The likelihood of Trapilo playing in the Bears' Week 3 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles still seems very unlikely. He is still slowly working his way back, and the Bears would probably like to see him in full pads at practice for at least two weeks before considering putting him in.
An early-to-mid-October timeline seems more realistic than ever. No one was considering that timeline during the offseason, as it felt more like November or December. Trapilo has recovered incredibly quickly from the injury and is looking better than ever.
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Bears fans will have to suffer with Braxton Jones and Benedet at left tackle a little longer, but when Trapilo returns, he'll be incredible for an offensive line that could use some help.
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