Ryan Poles faces scrutiny as the Bears are without a clear left tackle option

As the Chicago Bears prepare for the 2025 NFL season, general manager Ryan Poles is facing mounting pressure over one glaring roster concern: the left tackle position. Despite a strong offseason that saw the team reinforce its offensive interior and build around quarterback Caleb Williams, the battle to protect his blind side remains unresolved—and the scrutiny is intensifying.

Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo, and now Theo Benedet have all rotated through first-team reps at left tackle during training camp. While Jones is the most experienced, his performance has been inconsistent in his three years in the NFL. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar was brutally honest when evaluating Jones’ preseason showing against the Miami Dolphins.

Jones, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury during a game against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2024 season, missed the entire offseason workouts while he recovered from his injury. He is the most experienced candidate out of the four players competing for the left tackle position. But Roushar's blunt assessment is a sign of accountability that was sorely missing last year. Yet, the Bears fans probably do not feel comfortable hearing about it all of a sudden right now.

Trapilo, a second-round pick from Boston College, has shown flashes during offseason workouts while Jones was still recovering. But like any rookie, he has struggled with consistency. But in a surprise move, Trapilo was given some snaps at right tackle last week. Whatever the motive behind the decision, it was pretty telling when head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the move.

Examining the left tackle position for Bears

Perhaps this was a kick in the backside move made by Roushar against the incumbent right tackle, Darnell Wright. Roushar admitted he has looked inconsistent, and there had been reports of him being plagued by false starts during training camp. Still, hearing about Wright struggling as he enters his third season is not a good thing to hear for many Bears fans.

That opened the door for second-year offensive lineman Theo Benedet, a former undrafted free agent from Canada, who has emerged as a surprise contender. Many fans will remember Benedet, who became a cult hero among the fans when he was featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" last year. Benedet spent all of last season on the practice squad, but flashed with his pass blocking against the Miami Dolphins, receiving high praise from Roushar.

“There’s a lot of things to really like about Theo. He’s had probably as much improvement as any player we have in the group. Every day he's just continued to work and improve, and he grabs our attention with the things he does really well”.

With Caleb Williams entering his second year and expectations rising, the Bears cannot afford any instability at left tackle. Roushar’s blunt assessments reflect the urgency within the building and also put Poles under the microscope. After finally addressing the interior offensive line by adding Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson, Poles will face the wrath of frustrated fans if Williams is sacked anywhere near last year's total (68).

Read more: Bears must focus on changing its perception one game at a time in 2025

As the preseason winds down, the Bears must make a decision. Whether it’s Jones, Trapilo, or even Benedet, the choice will have major implications for the offense—and for Poles' reputation.