Theo Benedet and the Chicago Bears head into their Week 11 rematch against the Minnesota Vikings ready to atone for their Week 1 “Monday Night Football” loss. They received an encouraging piece of information that they were bracing for from the other side.
Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard will miss this game due to a shoulder injury.
That is good news for the Bears, and Benedet in particular, with Greenard mostly lining up across from opposing left tackles.
Theo Benedet Reacts as Bears Get Good News Before Vikings Game
Bears LT Theo Benedet Avoids Vikings DE Jonathan Greenard
Benedet did not play left tackle in the first meeting against the Vikings in Week 1. He was an additional lineman who reported as an eligible receiver multiple times, just as Ozzy Trapilo did against the New York Giants in Week 10.
All Benedet had to go by was film of predecessor Braxton Jones. Benedet was well aware of what kind of threat Greenard posed, with just 2.0 sacks this season, but 12.0 sacks in 2024.
Then Clocker Sports confirmed to Benedet that the Vikings had ruled Greenard out.
“We knew it was kind of up in the air, his status,” Benedet told Clocker Sports on Friday. “Obviously, he’s a good player that we spent some time preparing for. But the guys they got behind him are all also very good players and kind of, I think, the same profile, in terms of rushers. So, we’re prepared for whoever they throw out there and have a good plan.”
The Vikings, who still have 2024 Pro Bowler Andrew Van Ginkel, got to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams for 2 sacks, though one of them was him running out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage, and the other came from up the middle of the offensive line.
However, it is not necessarily who gets home for the Vikings, but more about how they go about creating chaos for opposing quarterbacks under defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
That is where Bears head coach and offensive playcaller Ben Johnson comes in.
“I think he just gives you a ton of different looks, obviously. Tries to, I think, make you play slower. Doesn’t allow you to play fast because you’re trying to process things,” Benedet told Clocker Sports.
“Ben’s done a great job with kind of helping us see the defense properly, and I think that’s going to allow us to play fast this weekend.”
The Vikings have lost three of their last four.
The Bears have won two straight and six of their last seven. All that matters on Sunday is who comes out with the win, though, with the Bears seeking their first NFC North win of the 2025 regular season.
Theo Benedet Leaning on Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney
Benedet was an afterthought, not to the Bears, but to the NFL at large, coming into the season. Now, he heads into his seventh NFL start at a position he did not envision himself playing for one of the NFL’s charter franchises.
Asked for his self-assessment, Benedet was self-deprecatory. He also said he felt he had been “good,” touting what he feels has been consistent growth.
“I think I’ve gotten more and more comfortable on the left,” Benedet told Clocker Sports. “Obviously, some performances, I know, that aren’t up to the standard that I was setting for myself. But I feel like week over week, I’ve shown improvement in the areas technically [that] I have to. And I’m just trying to keep doing that as the season gets into the business end of it.”
He is not going through it alone, though.
“I can’t say enough good things about Braxton. Obviously, it’s always a tough situation when you’re competing with someone for a position like that. And he doesn’t have to be so forthcoming, the way he is with me, but he’s super supportive. Always checking in on me. Telling me what he’s seeing. If he has experience against certain rushers, what he’s gotten from them before. So, he’s really just been, really, an amazing teammate.”
And if Jones’ (IR) experience were not enough with 44 starts in 46 career games played, Benedet can rely on four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney from snap to snap.
“I lean on Joe a lot, and he’s just really, obviously, experienced. Calming presence, I would say. So, it’s pretty assuring when you come off after a drive, ‘Hey, what are you seeing here? How do they play this?’ And yeah, he’s been really helpful for me.”
The Bears hope it all comes together for a win on Sunday and even greater heights after.