The Chicago Bears will go undefeated in Week 5. That is because the Bears are on their bye week, and they enter it riding a two-game winning streak, their first since Weeks 5 and 6 of the 2024 campaign. Moreover, the Bears are in this position thanks to head coach Ben Johnson.
After two weeks, Johnson and the Bears faced plenty of consternation.
Johnson then made a significant change in Week 4 that figures to have a significant ripple effect on the rest of the Bears’ roster.
Bears OL Theo Benedet Gets Honest About Ben Johnson’s Decision
Bears Coaches Prepared Theo Benedet Well
Second-year undrafted free agent offensive lineman Theo Benedet started against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4, standing in for the injured Darnell Wright. However, Johnson moved Benedet over to LT, replacing starter Braxton Jones, during the second quarter.
After the game, Johnson praised the group that finished the game, and he remained non-committal to any permutations of the front five before heading into the bye week, but is expected to stick with Benedet.
During the game, Benedet said the decision made for a challenging transition.
“That can be a challenge for sure,” Benedet told Clocker Sports on Tuesday. “It’s not maybe as seamless as some people think, but we’ve been doing that in practice. I think the coaches have done a good job of kind of throwing me in there, sometimes without warning, so I can be pretty prepared for a moment like that. And it takes a few plays, and just get everything flipped in your mind. But after that, I felt it went pretty well.”
Benedet has drawn praise, including from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who took one sack against the Raiders despite being under constant duress.
“It’s been fun being around Theo. Personality-wise – I don’t know if y’all get to be around him as much as I do, obviously – but his personality is … great. Awesome, awesome human outside of football,’ Williams told reporters on Tuesday.
“Then, when you get on the football field, [he is] always willing to learn. I think he’s grown tremendously. And I think as a development of his body, but also mentally about football, he’s grown tremendously. So, kudos to him, and having that mindset of, ‘I’m going to keep growing. I’m not in a position I want to be in. And when my opportunity comes, that’s when I’ll shine.’”
Notably, Jones is in the final year of his contract with the Bears.
Bears Still Missing Darnell Wright, Among Others
Tuesday’s practice was the only one of the week for the Bears, but it still offered a mixed bag of injury updates for a battle-worn group.
The Bears did not release an official practice report, perhaps because there is no opponent to update. But the portion open to the media did have rookie tight end Colston Loveland, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and cornerback Kyler Gordon on the field.
Tight end Cole Kmet was not there, nor were Wright or defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Jarrett was present in the Bears’ locker room after practice. However, without an official report, it is unclear if Jarrett or Wright made any progress after last week.
Kmet’s situation is even more nebulous, given that there were no prior indications that he was dealing with any injuries. Gordon was close to playing in Week 4, and he feels even more optimistic about his chances of suiting up when the Bears return from the bye.
The Bears will face the Washington Commanders on the road on “Monday Night Football.”