It’s a little late in the preseason to be messing around at left tackle, so giving long shot Theo Benedet an extended run with the first team seems a bit unusual.
But Bears coach Ben Johnson has been displeased with incumbent starter Braxton Jones, second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo and second-year player Kiran Amegadjie. Benedet took most of the first-string snaps Friday in a joint practice with the Bills. Jones got some, as well, but primarily worked on the second unit with Trapilo at right tackle in that group.
Johnson appeared to be annoyed by the uncertainty after the Bears went into training camp hoping to settle on a starting five for the offensive line and establish continuity going into the season.
“This is not going to be a revolving door,” Johnson said before practice. “We want one guy to clearly come out and say this is his job. We haven’t gotten that yet from our crew.
“I’d love to have five guys start on the offensive line for all 17-plus games, but that’s just not reality. We are going to have a lot of guys cycling through. . . . If one guy is not performing up to snuff, then we will find someone else who can.”
Johnson, who said he wouldn’t rotate players at left tackle during a regular-season game, left open the possibility of competition going into the season. Whoever opens as the starter Sept. 8 against the Vikings might not be the starter in Week 6, when the Bears come off their bye week.
Benedet’s emergence does not appear to be a tactic by Johnson to light a fire under Jones and Trapilo.
He was undrafted out of the University of British Columbia last year and spent all season on the practice squad. He went into camp this season unlikely to make the roster but launched himself into the competition this week.
“He’s right in the middle of it,” Johnson said. “He was probably overlooked to start this competition, but the longer this thing’s gone on, there’s a strong argument for what he’s put on tape.”
The preseason game against the Bills on Sunday should answer where everyone stands for now. With quarterback Caleb Williams starting, Johnson will go with whomever he trusts most to protect him.
Turner returns
The Bears have some injury concerns on defense with cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon out but got some good news with defensive lineman Shemar Turner getting back on the field.
Turner, a second-round pick at No. 62 overall, initially was expected to contend for a spot on the second unit but had been out since hurting his ankle in the first practice.
He went through individual drills as part of his ramp-up process and is unlikely to play Sunday.
All over Allen
The Bears’ defense had no problem stepping up to the challenge of facing reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen and an offense that was second in the NFL last season.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety Kevin Byard intercepted passes from Allen. Edmunds, who played five seasons with Allen, took advantage of safety Jaquan Brisker’s pass breakup at the goal line.
“We didn’t talk about the pick,” Edmunds said of his chat with Allen at practice. “That’s my guy. . . . It’s a relationship that we built.”
Allen threw a career-low six interceptions last season.
Notes
Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus continued his outstanding camp with several big catches, including one on a short pass from Williams in which he ran away from the Bills for a long touchdown.
† Third-string quarterback Case Keenum left practice with a leg injury Thursday and was still out Friday.
† Johnson said playing time for his starters Sunday was still “to be determined,” and Bills coach Sean McDermott declined to specify his plans.
† White Sox general manager Chris Getz attended practice.