In a season that had so much go right for the Chicago Bears, one of the more unfortunate, unlucky breaks that went against them involved standout rookie offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo suffering a serious injury during their magical playoff victory against the Green Bay Packers.
Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon, which is one of the worst injuries an offensive lineman can suffer. GM Ryan Poles confirmed that fans should not expect to see much of Tarpilo on the field in the 2026 season as he works his way back to full health.
Poles said that Trapilo's recovery is going to take a fairly long time, as he expects him to go "deep into next year" on the sidelines. Trapilo, who converted from his college spot of right tackle to fill in at left tackle in a pinch, was starting to put it all together as Caleb Williams' blind-side protector.
This is a devastating loss for the Bears. Not only will their dynamite rookie class from 2025 be less effective, but the team's revamped offensive line will lose one of its most important contributors in Trapilo.
Bears confirm OT Ozzy Trapilo will miss a good chunk of 2026 season
Trapilo, who some considered a bit of an overdraft after his collegiate career at Boston College, put up Pro Football Focus grades that were on par with All-Rookie selections Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr. this season. Putting him in the starting lineup helped take a good offensive line to great status.
As far as replacements go, the Bears might be better off signing a veteran to a one-year deal than investing some NFL Draft capital in finding a replacement. Theo Benedet at left tackle for an entire 17-game season is a good way to neuter the offense that Williams helped orchestrate this season.
Names like Los Angeles' DJ Humphries, Arizona's Kelvin Beachum, or Baltimore's Joseph Noteboom may not make a park as a high-end starter, but they should be able to at least hold down the fort for a good chunk of the year until this offense can slot Trapilo back in.
Read more: Bears fans will love alternate angle of Caleb Williams' incredible game-tying TD
Trapilo's injury can be fairly serious for an offensive lineman, and Bears fans need to hope that his recovery process does not prevent him from reaching the highs he showed during his rookie season. If the injuries bother him, that could change the team's calculus as they plan for the future.