Bears made expected lineup change official in Week 13 giving one rookie a very important trial run that could influence plans beyond this season
Rookie OT Ozzy Trapilo gets a second start at left tackle.
The Chicago Bears made a big last minute decision in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, ruling out left tackle Theo Benedet and turning to Ozzy Trapilo to protect the blindside of quarterback Caleb Williams against a veteran front.
The rookie, while thrown into the fire in his first career start, made the most of the opportunity and it’s something the team was hoping to eventually see out of him.
“Ozzy’s grown a lot,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “I was certainly happy with the way Ozzy played. You come in the locker room after the game, for him to have gone in and played the way he did, everyone was excited for him. I know he was really excited. But that’s just a testament to the work that he’s done leading up to this point.”
When Trapilo was drafted in the second-round, the hope was that he could at best become a starting left tackle for this team and at worst be a quality swing tackle. After hitting a rookie wall in training camp, Trapilo lost out on the left tackle battle to open the season but his development since being drafted has been encouraging and Week 12 was a positive sign that made for a real conversation.
With Benedet healthy and off the final injury report going into Week 13’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, many wondered who head coach Ben Johnson would turn to at left tackle, and now we have the answer to that question.
Ozzy Trapilo starts at LT in Week 13 for the Bears’ offense
For the second week in a row, the Bears are keeping the rookie in the starting lineup at left tackle and it’s the smart decision. Benedet was very impressive in the run game during his time as the starter but struggled in pass protection, allowing the most pressures on the team this season.
Trapilo looked a lot better in the pass game and serviceable in the run game in his first start and now gets another opportunity against a stout Eagles’ front.
“He didn’t miss a beat there,” Johnson said of Trapilo’s first start. “Communication was really good between him and Joe (Thuney). I think he did a nice job whenever he had help on his side of being slow to drag out and so he was helping out, being firm to the inside while allowing the guys outside of him to do their jobs. And so, just the full understanding of the game plan and what we’re trying to get done and it’s a great start for him to build on.”
Saying Trapilo is the starter down the stretch beyond Week 13, this will be a very important trial run for the rookie against some top defensive lines. If he can prove to hold his own and continue to impress, the Bears might already have their left tackle of the future.
“He knows he belongs,” Johnson said. “He knows he belongs. I think he’s got confidence and it doesn’t really matter right side or left side, I think he knows he can be a very productive player at this level.”
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