Braxton Jones will start at left tackle for the Bears

Published September 8, 2026 04:28 PM The Bears have settled on a starting left tackle. Head coach Ben Johnson announced on Tuesday that Braxton Jones will be manning the position against the Panthers on Sunday. Jones competed with Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie, and Jedrick Wills over the course of the offseason and summer. Jones started 44 games at the position over the last four seasons, which likely helped give him an edge at what Johnson called “a hot spot” for the team last month. Amegadjie and Wills have since been released. Ozzy Trapilo took over the starting job on the left side last season, but he’s still working his way back from the patellar tendon injury he suffered in the postseason. Johnson said there’s no timeline for the end of that process at the moment, so Jones will get his chance to make a case for an extended run in the job.