Theo Benedet’s shoulder injury puts Ozzy Trapilo in line for potential start at left tackle for Chicago Bears
Theo Benedet has a shot to start at left tackle Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he returned to practice Thursday afternoon.
Benedet, who suffered a right shoulder injury in the Chicago Bears’ road win against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, is bidding to make his sixth consecutive start and extend what has been valuable playing experience.
The team listed him as a limited participant on the injury report Thursday for what was a little more than 90-minute practice. The final injury report Friday should provide a little more clarity at a position that has been a bit of a revolving door since the start of last season.
Braxton Jones started the first three games of this season at left tackle, and Benedet has started the last five. If Benedet cannot play, Ozzy Trapilo is expected to make his first start of the season. Just as the Bears rotated Benedet into games while Jones was starting, they’ve sprinkled in Trapilo some, but that rotation stopped Monday against the Seahawks.
If Trapilo needs to start, it’s worth knowing he has played only 36 snaps on offense this season after missing preseason in his comeback from a ruptured patellar tendon.
“We just thought that was the best opportunity for that game,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor said in explaining why Trapilo didn’t see the field in Seattle. “Based on that matchup, how he was playing, it was just kind of the way it went that particular week.”
Benedet suffered the injury Monday but didn’t miss any time, and the Bears will use the bye after they face the Buccaneers to heal up. Jones, who underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee Tuesday, Benedet, Trapilo and Joe Thuney all started at left tackle last season. Benedet and Trapilo each had stretches in 2025 in which they started six consecutive games at left tackle. That’s the longest stretch the offense has gone without a change.
“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating,” Taylor said. “It is what it is. We’ll do whatever it takes to give everybody the best chance to succeed.”
The opportunity has been huge for Benedet while Trapilo has worked his way back into form. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, he’s building his resume with each outing, and the Bears have been happy with his growth this season. They challenged Benedet to play with better balance and not get caught leaning out over his feet as much, and he has done that. He was called for five false starts last season. So far this season, he has one.
The Bears believe Trapilo is ready to play — if needed — otherwise he wouldn’t be active for game days. It’s going to be a tough task against the Buccaneers, who are fifth in the league in scoring defense, No. 1 in takeaways, third in total defense, second against the run and ninth versus the pass. It’s an all-around good unit led by coach Todd Bowles, who has a long history of being creative with pressure packages, something for which the Bears will have to account.
Trapilo had a couple of rough moments the last time he played — in Week 7 against the New England Patriots — but the coaching staff hasn’t been discouraged.
“I like the fact that he’s been out there,” offensive line coach Dan Roushar said. “It’s getting him game-ready. You miss all of OTAs, you miss all of training camp. All those things, and there’s no substitute for the preparation, the work that goes before that. And yet mentally he’s been locked in. He’s been good assignment-wise. Just hasn’t put it all together yet and we’re looking for that every day when he goes on the field.
“I think we’ve tried to do the right thing by him, by us, knowing that we’re a bump away from him having to play. So how do you get him ready? Well, you’ve got to put him into the fire and see it happen.”
Injury report
In addition to Benedet, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (groin) and cornerback Malik Muhammad II (toe) were limited in practice. Running back Kyle Monangai (toe), linebacker D’Marco Jackson (ankle) and left guard Joe Thuney (rest) did not participate.