Braxton Jones Enters Bears Training Camp as Starting Left Tackle

Braxton Jones will open training camp as the Chicago Bears' starting left tackle. yardbarker.com reported that the team signed the 27-year-old to a one-year, $5 million contract after a 2025 season in which three different players made at least four starts and logged at least 200 snaps at the position. Jones began 2025 as the starter but was benched in Week 4 and later placed on injured reserve.

Second-year player Theo Benedet started seven games before 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo took over for the next six. Trapilo missed Week 18 with an injury, then suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon in the wild-card round. Joe Thuney played left tackle in the divisional-round loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Bears drafted Trapilo in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the expectation he would become their long-term starter at the position. Trapilo is now expected to miss most or all of the 2026 season. Jones took every first-team rep at left tackle during the team's spring practices, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

Jones attributed part of his 2025 difficulties to a 2024 ankle injury. “I just don’t think I was at my best with my injury, and mentally it can be a lot,” Jones said. ” Jones did not reach free agency after the 2025 season.

His new contract gives him another opportunity to secure a larger deal by remaining healthy and reclaiming his prior level of play.