The Chicago Bears learned a lot about themselves in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and it could result in some long-term changes to the starting lineup.
While the team was off on Monday, head coach Ben Johnson met with the media and, among other things, addressed the in-game changes he made to the offensive line and how some of what the Bears did could have staying power.
The reveal will not be until after their bye, though, possibly with an update on Jaylon Johnson.
Bears All-Pro CB Jaylon Johnson Checks In to Lead News Roundup
Jaylon Johnson Posts Instagram Update
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, a Second Team All-Pro in 2023, is on injured reserve with a groin injury that required core muscle surgery. His status for the remainder of the regular season remains unclear, but Johnson posted a video to his Instagram story that showed he is in the early stages of recovery.
In the video, Johnson is walking alone, and he even pans down to show the drainage system he has in place, presumably, following the procedure.
“We out here working,” Johnson said in the video on September 29. “Drain bag in and everything. Get your steps in, man. Get outside. Win the day. Walk with a purpose. You ain’t gotta always feel good. Just make sure you moving good, though. Moving in the right direction. Get your mind in the right spot. Win the day, man. God is good. Take advantage of every opportunity you can get.”
“I don’t have [a timeline for Johnson’s recovery],” Johnson said Monday via teleconference. “I just saw him in the building late last week. And so, I’ll follow up with him, but he did seem like he was in good spirits when I got to visit with him for a minute there, end of last week. And I’ll certainly let you guys know if I get any update any further than that.”
Bears HC Ben Johnson Talks OL Shuffle
Johnson and the Bears entered Week 4 without starting right tackle Darnell Wright. They shifted his replacement, Theo Benedet, over to the left side in place of Braxton Jones, who was benched during the contest.
Johnson praised the group after the game and said they had some idea about potential shuffling coming into the contest.
On Monday, though, Johnson was pressed about the implications of his in-game decision.
“I think we need to look at all four games so far as a whole, and we’ll get a good feel here over the next few days where we’re at schematically. What are we doing well? What aren’t we doing well? And I think we’ll really have a good grasp of what we need to do going forward. So, it’s too early for me to tell you that,” Ben Johnson said Monday.
“Be honest with you. I feel like we got to go through this process and just figure out what’s best for us and our team going forward here. I’ve got a lot of faith in the guys in that room. We got some talented individuals, and I really believe in the coaching staff in that room as well, that we’re only scratching the surface of what we’re capable of.”
The Bears went through the process in training camp, allowing Benedet, Jones, 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie, and 2025 second-rounder Ozzy Trapilo to compete for the starting job.
Notably, Jones still earned a higher pass blocking grade than Benedet or Jones from Pro Football Focus against the Raiders.
Ozzy Trapilo Praised After 1st Offensive Snaps
They settled on Jones, the incumbent starter, who spent most of the offseason program and training camp working his way back from an ankle injury suffered last season.
Trapilo replaced Benedet at RT on Sunday and is a wild card.
“Talk about a tough situation. You get thrown into the fire against a guy like Maxx Crosby,” Johnson said of Trapilo. “It’s a welcome to the NFL moment right there, if there ever is one. Ton of respect for Crosby as a player, and he certainly was the game-wrecker that we thought he could be early on in that game. And so, Ozzy didn’t bat an eye. He went out there, he competed his tail off. I’m sure there’s a couple plays he’d like back, but I was really I was really pleased with the way he went out there and competed. And I think it’s a good foundational piece for the future for him.”
The Bears already decided once that Trapilo was better suited at RT than LT. The question is whether they revisit that if Benedet struggles as Jones’ replacement. That is, of course, if Johnson and the coaching staff decide to make that switch during the break.
Sunday marked Trapilo’s first set of offensive snaps, and they were unlikely to be his last.