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Chicago Bears’ Surprise Roster Cuts Could Impact Caleb Williams in Major Way
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- Chicago Bears’ Surprise Roster Cuts Could Impact Caleb Williams in Major Way
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Chicago Bears have spent the entire offseason building around Caleb Williams' potential star turn .
Ben Johnson wants an explosive offense, and Williams has the playmakers to deliver it. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift give Chicago speed, size and versatility. Darnell Wright, Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Garrett Bradbury provide proven talent up front.
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But Sunday's roster cuts revealed the one part of the equation still carrying real risk: left tackle.
Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Bears waived Kiran Amegadjie, released former first-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr. with an injury settlement. They kept Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet and the still-rehabbing Ozzy Trapilo as their left-tackle options.
That is a major vote of confidence in Jones. It is also a major gamble for an offense that needs its quarterback to stay clean. Chicago has not formally named Jones the Week 1 starter, but its actions made him the clear favorite anyway.
Jones took the first-team left-tackle reps late in camp, started the preseason game against Cincinnati and then sat out the finale against Tennessee while Amegadjie played 47 snaps. Afterward, Johnson said the Bears felt better about the tackle conversation than the unsettled safety competition.
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That was not an official depth-chart declaration. It was close enough to matter.
Jones has the experience to justify the opportunity. A fifth-round pick from Southern Utah in 2022, he started all 17 games as a rookie and held the job over the next several seasons. But his path back here has been uneven.
Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney (62) blocks for quarterback Caleb Williams (18) against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) during the first quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
In 2025, Jones won a training-camp battle for the starting job despite still recovering from a broken fibula. He started the first four games before being benched during a Week 4 win over the Raiders. Trapilo replaced him, and Jones soon suffered a knee injury that ended his season.
Chicago nevertheless brought Jones back on a one-year deal and gave him another chance to compete with Trapilo, Benedet, Amegadjie and Wills. Now, he has outlasted two of those challengers and is the clear frontrunner to be a Week 1 starter.
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The bigger question is whether Chicago has enough insurance if Jones struggles or gets hurt.
Benedet projects as the swing tackle, an important role but not necessarily a player the Bears want protecting Williams' blind side for an extended stretch. Trapilo made the 53-man roster after an impressive recovery from the torn patellar tendon he suffered in January, but he has been limited to individual drills and has not returned to full team work.
Chicago clearly believes Trapilo can help this season. It just cannot count on him as an immediate answer until he handles more football activity. That makes Jones' season more important than ever.
Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) and linebacker Quay Walker (7) pressure Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Bears 28-21.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Williams took a league-high 68 sacks as a rookie before Chicago's reinforcements upfront (and Williams) slashed that number to 24 last season. The offensive line deserves credit, as does Williams' growth in Johnson's system. The next step is to play on schedule, make faster decisions, and let Chicago's talented pass catchers turn routine completions into explosive plays.
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That becomes harder if pressure from the left edge becomes a recurring issue. Left tackle is a premium position for a reason. A quarterback can survive occasional pressure. He cannot build consistency if his blindside protection becomes a weekly question.
That is why Chicago's decisions on Amegadjie and Wills matter beyond ordinary late-August cuts.
Amegadjie was a third-round pick who received another chance when Jones missed time in camp. He did not do enough to keep a roster spot. Wills arrived with former No. 10 overall pick pedigree but could not live up to that label.
The Bears narrowed their contingency plan around Jones, Benedet and Trapilo.
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If Jones turns last season's benching and injury into a redemption year, Chicago will have the protection needed to unlock Williams and an offense with enormous expectations. If he does not, the most important question surrounding Williams' potential star season may have been sitting at left tackle all along.
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