The Chicago Bears are now ten games into the 2023 season, and we are past the halfway mark. So, with the mini-bye and with a chance to look back at the first ten games and the first half of the season, we are going to grade the Bears offensive line.
We graded this as recently as week six, so you can see how the grades have changed.
Grading Chicago Bears Left Tackles
Larry Borom: 406 snaps
Primary matchups: Mike Danna, Felix Anuduike-Uzomah, Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Chase Young, Pat Jones, DJ Wonnum, Tyree Wilson, Malcolm Koonce, Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack, Carl Granderson
Larry Borom has proven to be a problem. He started for the Bears from week three to week eight, and he played a bit in week nine to help Braxton Jones get eased in. However, in week ten, he saw zero snaps, and barring health, it will be the last we see of Borom.
The last snap we did see was a strip sack allowed to Carl Granderson to end a potential game-tying drive. The issue with Borom is that while guys like Khalil Mack and Chase Young are expected to have success, Borom was struggling against Tyree Wilson, DJ Wonnum, and Carl Granderson. They are all fine rushers, but all had some of their best games against Larry Borom.
Larry Borom Grade: D
Braxton Jones: 248 snaps
Primary matchups: Preston Smith, Justin Hollins, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, Carl Granderson, Eku Leota, Amare Barno
Braxton Jones played the first two games and finally returned in week nine. He played just 74% of the snaps, but with a quick turnaround to a Thursday game, they wanted him to be rested. Jones played the entire game on Thursday. It helps that he had an injured Panthers front, but Jones had his best game yet and held things down. He was penalty-free, which has been an issue for him in recent weeks.
Braxton Jones Grade: B-
Grading Chicago Bears Left Guard
Cody Whitehair: 541 snaps
Primary matchups: TJ Slaton, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Logan Hall, Mike Greene, Neil Farrell, Derrick Nnadi, Zach Allen, Jonathan Harris, Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols, Austin Johnson, Bryan Breese, DeShawn Williams, LaBryan Ray
It has been a bumpy road for Cody Whitehair, who is easily having the worst year of his career. He started two games at center in weeks five and six but has been back at guard for the last four weeks.
He is coming off of two of the better performances of his season, but it is fair that Bryan Breese and DeShawn Williams are not the toughest competition he has seen. The issue is that while he has not allowed many pressures recently, he is still too slow to make any real impact out in space in the run game, and everything he can bring is limited overall.
The other thing you can say is that he is reliable. Fighting through is injury is part of why his decline came so fast, but he does not miss snaps, which is what this team needs.
Cody Whitehair Grade: D
Teven Jenkins: 103 snaps
Primary matchup: Jonathan Allen, Dean Lowry, Jon Bullard, Harrison Phillips
We had a review of Teven Jenkins’ snaps at left guard in our week six review.
Ja'Tyre Carter: 11 snaps
Primary Matchup: Jonathan Allen
Grading Chicago Bears center
Lucas Patrick: 563 snaps
Primary matchups: TJ Slaton, Kenny Clark, Greg Gaines, Vita Vea, Derrick Nnadi, DJ Jones, Khyiris Tonga, John Jenkins, Nick Williams, Khalen Saunders, Shy Tuttle
Lucas Patrick has been a big disappointment. In week five, he left with an injury, and the Bears finally had Nate Davis and Teven Jenkins healthy. There was a thought that we may not see Patrick anymore. However, an injury to Nate Davis changed that fate and put him right back into the lineup in week six.
Patrick has not had the same fate as Cody Whitehair, as in his play has not improved in recent weeks. How many big gains do you remember where there was a flag on Patrick in recent weeks? He has four penalties in the last three games and seven this season.
The New Orleans Saints game was arguably his worst of the season, and it has been a bad season. There is still a chance that Davis returns later this season, and the Bears will try to kick Whitehair inside to center once again.
Lucas Patrick Grade: F
Cody Whitehair: 87 snaps
Primary matchup: John Ridgeway, Khyiris Tonga
We reviewed Cody Whitehair in the week six grades.
Dan Feeney: 3 snaps
Doug Kramer: 2 snaps
Doug Kramer is no longer on the Chicago Bears.
Grading Chicago Bears Right Guard
Teven Jenkins: 276 snaps
Primary Matchups: Jerry Tillery, Bilal Nichols, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Bryan Breese, Nathan Shepherd, Derrick Brown
Teven Jenkins played week five and six at left guard, but injuries caused him to shift over to the right side. Jenkins has always been more natural on the right side, and that is where he started last year. You can tell because his play has been better on this side, and the run game can feel it.
He was excellent in the Raiders game, igniting the run game in a big win. Against the Chargers, he held his own as well. They are better than expected in the ground game, but he did well in pass protection. He continued against the Saints as the Bears ran hard behind him.
Thursday was the worst game of his season, but it does make sense because he played Derrick Brown, one of the few good Panthers players who were healthy. Is Jenkins good in the weaker matchups but will struggle when he has to step up in class? We will find out over the coming weeks, but for now, he has done just fine.
Teven Jenkins Grade: A
Nate Davis: 220 snaps
Primary matchups: Colby Wooden, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Jonathan Harris, Zach Allen, Daron Payne, Jon Bullard, Harrison Phillips
We graded Nate Davis and his play at right guard in the week six review.
Ja'Tyre Carter: 159 snaps
Primary matchups: Vita Vea, Tershawn Wharton, Chris Jones, Dean Lowry, Jon Bullard, Harrison Phillips
Ja’Tyre Carter has not played since our review in week six.
Darnell Wright: 650 snaps
Primary matchups: Lukas Van Ness, Kinglsey Enagbare, Rashan Gary, Shaq Barrett, Yaya Diaby, George Karlaftis, Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Montez Sweat, Danielle Hunter, Maxx Crosby, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Cameron Jordan, DJ Johnson
Darnell Wright has been the best thing about the Chicago Bears in an ugly season for their offensive line. First, he has only missed five snaps, all coming against the Las Vegas Raiders. Besides that, he has been an ironman, and we know that he is playing through something. More than that, look at the primary names he has matched up against.
Gary, Barrett, Sweat, Hunter, Crosby, Bosa, and Jordan are some of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. All of them come to Darnell Wright. Wright has given up his sacks, and there are notable losses against Crosby, Jordan, Hunter, Sweat, Gary, and even Chris Jones.
Still, for a rookie to even hang with those names is notable, and he has. He can still clean up his feet a bit, and he lunges at times in the run game. Still, he can work out a lot of his issues. The Chicago Bears have something in Darnell Wright.
Grade: B