The Chicago Bears have avoided spending on the left tackle position this offseason as they hope to bridge the gap between Ozzy Trapilo’s torn patellar tendon in January and his potential return near the end of this year, but Braxton Jones‘ injury at training camp this week should finally dispel the notion within the organization that such a goal is actually realistic.
Head coach Ben Johnson benched Jones last season for Theo Benedet, who he then sidelined in favor of Trapilo — and that was before Jones suffered not one, but two knee injuries during the 2025 campaign. But with Trapilo out, the Bears brought Jones back on a one-year deal worth $5 million, which in itself indicates a market value well below that of the average NFL left tackle.
But then, on Thursday, Jones suffered another injury during practice.
“Bears LT Braxton Jones, who has gotten the vast majority of reps with starters through camp to this point, has left practice with trainer Andre Tucker,” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported via social media.
Jones’ injury, and the lack of talent behind him on the depth chart, more than argue for the Bears to look to bolster the position in free agency. And the best potential option by a wide margin is former Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Taylor Decker.
Taylor Decker Can Slot Into Ben Johnson’s Offense With Ease
GettyFormer Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker.
Decker spent 10 years as the Lions’ starter at LT before asking for his release this offseason, which the team granted. The move followed the first season of Decker’s three-year, $60 million contract extension, which he signed in 2024.
At nearly 33 years old and with a decade of NFL tread on his tires, Decker has the experience to join an offense later in camp and still fit in quickly enough to be ready for opening weekend in mid-September. A transition into Chicago’s offense would likely be the smoothest for Decker, who spent three years playing for Johnson, the Lions’ former OC, in Detroit (2022-24).
Decker also may have the incentive to take as much time off the field to rest and revamp as possible, so it is not necessarily a bad sign that he remains a free agent nearly a full week into August. That said, part of his availability may be tied to a contract ask. Spotrac projects Decker’s market value at two years and $42.65 million.
Johnson and company like Trapilo, a second-round rookie in 2025 who has extensive value given his contract size relative to the positional average across the league through his first contract, which ends after the 2028 campaign. As such, if the Bears can’t convince Decker to sign a one-year deal, then paying him might hamstring their salary cap space heading into 2027.
But it is more than worth it to Chicago to make Decker a strong offer for 2026, perhaps an overpay even, to bring in an above-average LT who can step into the starting lineup right away and afford the Bears a real asset on quarterback Caleb Williams‘ blindside.
Bears Have Shaky Depth at Left Tackle
GettyFormer Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
The Decker-to-Chicago argument was beyond viable even before Jones’ injury on Thursday, and is even more so now.
“Jones has been the front-runner since the spring, but the Bears have begun splitting first-team reps among former [first]-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr. and Kiran Amegadjie,” Courtney Cronin of ESPN wrote Monday. “Benedet is also in the mix, having started eight games at left tackle in 2025, and seems primed to be the team’s swing tackle. Though Jones appears to have the edge, where there’s intrigue is who’s behind him. Between Wills and Amegadjie, it’s plausible only one makes the 53-man roster.”
Johnson spoke about the battle at LT before practice on Thursday, though his thoughts may have changed following Jones’ exit from the practice field and could alter further depending on how serious the injury proves to be.
“We’re hoping – maybe middle of next week – we’ll have a lot of clarity there,” Johnson said. “We’re going to continue to roll guys through. Kiran’s certainly taken some reps over there, Jedrick, Theo’s in the mix. This is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination. We’re going to continue to cycle guys through.”
Amegadjie was a third-round pick of the Bears’ in 2024 and has played just 140 total snaps (125 on offense) across six appearances over two professional campaigns. Wills was the No. 10 overall selection of the Cleveland Browns in 2020 but has proven a bust and also battled significant injuries in recent seasons. Wills missed all of 2025 while trying to get healthy after appearing in just 13 games combined across the two years prior.
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