Theo Benedet playing in Week 1 would signal complete disaster for Braxton Jones

The Chicago Bears' left tackle competition is over. It's been settled.

Or has it?

After Braxton Jones was named the starting left tackle this week, in preparation for the team's Week 1 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar muddied the waters a little bit.

Just a couple of days after Jones was given the nod, Roushar met with Bears media on Thursday and, in the middle of praising Jones, also acknowledged that Theo Benedet has a strong possibility of getting some reps against Carolina.

"It’s a real strong possibility," Roushar said of Benedet seeing the field, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "We have a lot of confidence. Both of those guys have started in Week 1 games and we’ve won games with them as starters. We have a lot of confidence in their ability to get the job done."

Hold on a minute ... what?

So, the left tackle competition is over, but it's not done? Is that what he's telling us?

Braxton Jones being pulled in Week 1 means the Bears' run game can't do what it's supposed to

Listen, if Benedet winds up coming in for Jones during the Panthers, that means two things, and one of them is a whole lot more serious than the other.

First of all, Benedet is indeed a strong run blocker. We've seen it every time he takes the field. He is excellent in that department and moves a whole lot better than Jones does, laterally, especially. If Benedet replaced Jones, that has to mean the Bears weren't getting what they needed from Braxton in the run department.

We've covered the Panthers and their questionable defensive line, this week, too. Outside of Derrick Brown, the Panthers' run defense is horrendous on paper between Bobby Brown and Cam'Ron Jackson. Therefore, the Bears have every right to believe they'll run all over them on Sunday.

Now, if the run game gets off to a slow start and Jones simply isn't cutting it, then that's the world where I could see Benedet taking over. The Panthers also run a 3-4 defense, so they'll regularly have four linebackers on the field, who are of course, naturally, quicker than linemen. That's just football logic.

Jones struggling to move and get to his spots, in the run game, would be cause for Benedet to supplant the position.

Theo Benedet getting reps in Week 1 would signal the end for Braxton Jones

Now, other than the idea of Jones struggling in the run game, seeing Benedet take the field might also simply signal a brutal truth for Jones.

Kiss your Bears career goodbye, Braxton.

If we see Benedet take the field for Jones, he's done for.

Everybody knows Jones gives the Bears the best chance to win as they await Ozzy Trapilo's return. He has the starting experience. He's hung around Chicago and been the guy at left tackle.

But, if he gets pulled for a former undrafted free agent that is mediocre -- at best -- pass protection, good luck going forward. There won't be a future in Chicago, for Jones, if that ends up happening.

The Bears won't even think about rolling Jones back out there to start, going forward, if Benedet takes over. How can you go backwards if you're Ben Johnson?

You can't.

You keep your identity on the ground and roll with Benedet for as long as it takes to get Trapilo back -- which doesn't appear to be much longer, as Roushar also talked about Trapilo starting team drills "shortly."

If Jones gets pulled in fewer than one game after winning this job, he is essentially done in Chicago barring an emergency in 2026. But once that one-year contract is up in 2027, he'll be on to his next team. The Bears can't afford to keep playing these games with him, even as a backup.

It'll be Trapilo as your starter, and the Bears will figure out a better solution to stabilize the backup spot. Maybe that's Benedet, maybe not. But I can assure you one thing: it's not going to be Braxton Jones.

Add us as a preferred source on Google