Bears get important Ozzy Trapilo update before training camp, but Chicago needs to exercise caution with his recovery timeline
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo seems to be progressing well with his patellar tendon rehab but there’s still a long road ahead before the team should consider him a viable option in 2026.
When the Chicago Bears return for the start of training camp later this week, one player we for sure will not see participating on the field with the rest of the team is second-year offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo.
Trapilo suffered a serious patellar tendon injury during the team’s playoff win over the Green Bay Packers back on Jan. 26. It’s a brutal injury for any player to suffer and recover from, much less an offensive tackle. It also put a major wrench in Chicago’s left tackle plans going into the 2026 season.
Trapilo was coming into his own as a serviceable starting left tackle and following his injury, the Bears went back to the drawing board to determine the new starting option for the 2026 season. When camp opens, that battle will commence between Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie, and Jedrick Wills Jr. In the meantime, Trapilo will continue his rehab behind the scenes, but the Bears did get one update a few days ago.
Chicago Bears OT Ozzy Trapilo’s workout video offers promising update in his injury recovery
Earlier this week, strength and conditioning trainer Bailey Tangney posted various workout clips on his social media with a few of the clips featuring Ozzy Trapilo doing some upper body training.
None of the videos showed Trapilo training his lower body, but fans noticed on encouraging thing in that Trapilo was not wearing a knee brace or any protective padding on his knee.
For context, patients typically wear a hinged knee brace for 3-4 months after surgery. So, it shouldn’t be a shock that Trapilo is already out of his brace. However, after 4–6 months athletes can usually return to running and sport specific training. It’s been roughly five months for Trapilo since his injury, and the fact that he was only doing upper body training is telling.
The full return to action usually takes 9-12 months post-injury, the early end of that timeline was the case for Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons. So, Trapilo still has a long way to go with late October being the earliest he could possibly be cleared to start practicing, unless he gets way ahead of schedule.
Bears need to exercise caution with Ozzy Trapilo’s recovery timeline
A late October return to practice, at best, would have Trapilo back on the practice field around Weeks 7-9. Even then, it would take Trapilo another couple of weeks to get back into game shape before even thinking about playing on the blindside.
And, of course, rushing him back into action is recipe for disaster with an injury such as this. The Bears need to plan to exercise caution with Trapilo’s recovery. He’s a young player, there’s no need to rush him back and risk any more damage, regardless of how the left tackle situation fares through the first 7-9 weeks of the season.
For Bears fans getting excited about this update, don’t get too far ahead of yourselves. Trapilo still has a long way to go and it’s in everyone’s best interest to let that recovery process take the amount of time it needs.