Bears training camp notes: Rookie Braxton Jones is front-runner for left tackle position
LAKE FOREST - NFL teams don't do things for no reason during practice.
So when Bears rookie fifth-round draft pick Braxton Jones started taking reps at left tackle with the first-team offense during OTAs, it should've set off some alarm bells.
At the time, head coach Matt Eberflus said they were simply testing out guys in different spots. Well, several months later, testing out Jones has at left tackle has turned into starting Jones at left tackle.
The Bears released their first unofficial depth chart late Tuesday night and Jones is listed as the starting left tackle. That has been apparent in practice in recent days, but the depth chart confirmed it. According to the depth chart, the offensive line looks like this: Jones at left tackle, Cody Whitehair at left guard, Lucas Patrick at center, Michael Schofield at right guard and Riley Reiff at right tackle. With Patrick out due to a hand injury, Sam Mustipher is likely the starting center for now.
As the first preseason game approaches Saturday, the rookie from FCS Southern Utah seems likely to start at the most important position on the offensive line. At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Jones has the size and length that coaches love at those tackle positions.
"As a rookie, it's hard, man," said Reiff, an 11th-year veteran. "But it's good to take those lumps now. He's holding his own. The ceiling is super high with that kid. Long, can move, smart. It's just seeing some mental things, seeing a lot of reps."
Reiff signed a one-year contract just days before camp began. He has played both right and left tackle over his career. Outside of the first few days of camp, when he was playing both sides, Reiff has primarily been on the right side.
If Jones does prove to be capable of protecting Justin Fields' blind side, he will be the first big draft find of the Ryan Poles era. During Poles' first draft, the team selected four offensive linemen on day three. Jones was the highest selected of the group at the 168th overall pick.
The rookie is impressing Pro Bowl pass rusher Robert Quinn, who he has had to go up against in practice.
"Athleticism," Quinn said. "You can't really coach that. So to be able to have that as an ability as a young rookie, it only can go up from here. Take his coaching points and use his God-gifted talents and somehow mix them together, I think there's a lot of upside to that."
Other depth chart observations: At receiver, Equanimeous St. Brown is in a starting spot, while Byron Pringle and Velus Jones Jr. are listed with the second-team.
Defensively, there weren't any surprises. Rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker are in the starting lineup. In the base 4-3 defense, Joe Thomas is the third linebacker along with Roquan Smith and Nicholas Morrow.
Running back Khalil Herbert is the first-team kick returner, while receiver Dazz Newsome is the lead punt returner.
Attendance: The Bears were without a long list of players during practice Wednesday. Receiver N'Keal Harry (ankle), center Lucas Patrick (hand), cornerback Tavon Young (undisclosed), tight end Ryan Griffin (undisclosed) and receiver David Moore (undisclosed) were not present at practice.
Numerous players were present but not participating: cornerback Kyler Gordon, receiver Velus Jones Jr., receiver Byron Pringle, cornerback Duke Shelley, cornerback Kindle Vildor, cornerback Thomas Graham Jr., safety Dane Cruikshank, linebacker Noah Dawkins, tackle Julie'n Davenport, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, tight end Cole Kmet, defensive tackle Angelo Blackson and defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.
Eberflus was not available for comment on injuries Wednesday.