Former Third-Rounder’s Grip on Starting Job is Slipping for Bears

The Chicago Bears’ left tackle competition is heating up, and rookie Ozzy Trapilo is quickly making his case to be the man protecting Caleb Williams’ blindside. On Saturday, Trapilo received all the first-team reps at left tackle while veteran Braxton Jones worked with the second and third units. While offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said this was part of a “schedule rotation,” and not a definitive answer that Trapilo will be the starter, notably absent was 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie, who missed practice due to a leg injury. With Amegadjie sidelined, it’s allowing Trapilo to take full advantage and put his starting role in jeopardy.

Ozzy Trapilo Drawing Attention

Trapilo, a towering 6’8″, 316-pound lineman, is turning heads not just with his size, but with his maturity and coachability. “He’s really mature. He’s a rookie, but he feels like a veteran just as far as how he carries himself,” Doyle said. Head coach Ben Johnson added that although Trapilo is still adjusting to NFL speed, his ability to correct mistakes and absorb coaching is earning him high marks.

While he had moments of struggle against seasoned vets like Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett, Trapilo’s response has been key. His willingness to learn from every snap, paired with a reputation as a “technician” from his Boston College days, has given Bears coaches a reason to believe he’s a legitimate candidate to start on Week 1.

For now, Trapilo appears to be the “leader in the clubhouse” for the starting left tackle job.

Kiran Amegadjie’s Growth is Clear, But Injury Pauses His Momentum

For Amegadjie, the path has been a bit bumpier. After a disastrous NFL debut last year in Minnesota as the starting left tackle, where he allowed a sack, four pressures, and committed four penalties, he spent the offseason focusing on recovery and development. That rough outing was a result of being thrust into action despite not appearing to be ready after filling in for Jones in the game against the Washington Commanders before Amegadjie’s first start in a later matchup against the Vikings.

But 2025 has seen a different version of Amegadjie. Healthy and motivated, he’s worked all offseason to refine his technique, gain confidence, and reassert himself in the mix for the starting left tackle job. “I think I’m moving pretty well right now,” Amegadjie said. “I think I’m using my length better than I did last year. My set looks cleaner to me, just trying to make that more consistent…And I think in terms of scheme and playbook-wise, I think I’m in a much better position this year than I was last year.”

Despite missing Saturday’s practice, Amegadjie is still firmly in the mix alongside Trapilo and Jones. The Bears’ coaching staff insists the competition remains open. “We’re coming in with blank slates,” Johnson said. “Just because a guy’s played and another guy hasn’t, we’re going to let the competition play out.”

But is that just coach speak? Right now, all signs point to Trapilo taking over as the starting left tackle with Jones in a LT2/swing tackle role, just from reports coming out of training camp. It leaves Amegadjie with one option. Impress during preseason and joint practices with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.

It’s up to him to show the coaches just how bad he wants the starting role, or else it appears to be Trapilo’s job to lose.