When Ben Johnson was the Lions’ tight-ends coach in 2021, first-year head coach Dan Campbell made a lineup change over the bye week that helped fuel a rally in the second half. With the return of left tackle Taylor Decker, who had missed the first eight games with a broken finger, rookie Penei Sewell moved to right tackle after playing eight games in place of Decker at left.
Sewell, who’d played left tackle in his two seasons at Oregon, was better at right than he was at left for the Lions, saying at the time that playing the left side somehow helped him on the right. He made the all-rookie teams of the Pro Football Writers of America and Pro Football Focus and has been a first-team All-Pro the last two seasons.
Sewell’s midseason transition under Johnson’s eye is something to consider when Johnson evaluates the Bears’ offensive-line situation during this bye week.
In particular, Johnson has to solve puzzles at both tackle positions. In a 40-snap stint off the bench Sunday in place of injured starter Darnell Wright against the Raiders, rookie second-round draft pick Ozzy Trapilo seemed to confirm he’s a right tackle if he’s anything. Theo Benedet, an undrafted free agent in his second year, started at right tackle but looked like an upgrade over left tackle Braxton Jones when he replaced Jones in the second quarter.
If Wright, who has an elbow injury, returns after the bye week against the Commanders, something has to give. Trapilo could back up Wright, with Benedet or Jones starting at left tackle. But one option is particularly intriguing if the Bears plan to eventually get the most out of the Wright-Trapilo tackle tandem: Move Wright to left to open a spot for Trapilo at right.
It’s not ideal — Wright flourished at Tennessee when he moved from left tackle in 2022. But it might be the Bears’ best option if Trapilo can’t play left. And if Wright at left is a non-starter, what is the Bears’ plan for Trapilo?
The speculation might be unorthodox, but all’s fair when the Bears themselves don’t seem to have a very good grasp of the situation. They drafted Trapilo with the intent of playing him at left tackle. He failed to win not only the starting spot but the backup spot as well and was moved to the right side by the second preseason game.
Drafting Trapilo might still be a long-term hit for general manager Ryan Poles, but he’s a short-term miss as a right tackle playing behind a 24-year-old cornerstone. In theory, that job’s not going to open up for another eight years or more.
Surely Johnson has other ideas, perhaps sooner rather than later.
2a. The Bears’ rally to beat the Raiders was more significant in the big picture than their more convincing win over the Cowboys the previous week.
Not only did quarterback Caleb Williams show the “clutch gene” on the final drive to make the most of an unimpressive performance, but the Bears did two things that made his heroics count: They contained game-wreckers Ashton Jeanty and Maxx Crosby when they absolutely had to.
Jeanty was averaging 8.2 yards per carry (17 carries, 139 yards) when the Bears held him to minus-1 yard on his final four carries, forcing the Raiders to settle for a field goal while up 21-19 with 6:48 to go. Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard attempt was blocked.
That’s what good teams do.
2b. Williams had a 68.5 passer rating (18-for-32, 170 yards, one touchdown, one interception) with minus-5 yards on six rushes before finding a groove on the game-winning drive. He had a 101.7 passer rating (4-for-5, 42 yards) with two critical rushes for 18 yards on that drive.
3. Josh Blackwell’s block of Carlson’s field-goal attempt was reminiscent of Bryan Robinson’s block of Ryan Longwell’s 28-yard attempt as time expired to clinch the Bears’ 14-13 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field in 1999.
BLOCKED BY BLACKWELL 🚫
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/hGuxIKIQZ3
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 28, 2025
Other players who blocked field goals late in the fourth quarter, either preventing defeat or leading to victory: Alex Brown (2008), Marc Colombo (2004), James “Big Cat” Williams/Jim Flanigan (1998), Williams (1994); Al Harris (1980); and Dick Evey (1966).
4. The Bears allowed 23 points or more and won for the first time since Dec. 26, 2021 — also a 25-24 result and also against coach Pete Carroll. In that game, they beat the Seahawks on Nick Foles’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:01 to play, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Damiere Byrd, who made an acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone. After that victory and until Sunday, the Bears were 0-28 when allowing 23 or more points.
5. Williams’ elite throws, such as his 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rome Odunze on Sunday, get most of the attention. But one play that said just as much about the Bears’ offense was Williams’ fourth-and-one conversion in the second quarter — a short pass to running back D’Andre Swift in the flat ahead of the first-down marker.
The Bears are 1-for-2 on fourth-down conversions this season (the Lions stopped Williams on a quarterback sneak in Week 2). The league average this season is 72.6%. Last year, the Bears were 7-for-12 (58.3%, 26th in the NFL).
6. Cairo Santos was one of the heroes, going 4-for-4 on field goals (46, 43, 52 and 51 yards). But his leg strength again was an issue when the Bears punted on fourth-and-26 from the Raiders’ 40-yard line in the second quarter.
Before Week 4, a team had punted from its opponent’s 40 just once this season in seven situations there. On Sunday, it happened three times, with the Bears, Jaguars and Giants all deciding against a 58-yard field-goal attempt.
7. Odunze has 20 receptions for 296 yards and five touchdowns in four games, putting him on pace for 85 receptions for 1,258 yards and 21 touchdowns. His five receiving touchdowns tie him with Brandon Marshall (2014) and Dennis McKinnon (1985) for the most in Bears history in the first four games.
The Bears’ single-season record for receiving touchdowns is 13, achieved by Dick Gordon in 1970 (14 games) and Ken Kavanaugh in 1947 (12 games).
8. Bits and pieces: After deferring the first two times the Bears won the coin toss, Johnson chose to receive against the Raiders. The Bears deferred all eight times they won the toss last year. … The Bears have nine false-start penalties. Only the Packers have more, with 10. … The Bears had more penalty yards than their opponent for a fourth consecutive game. Their season differential of minus-139 is second-worst in the NFL. . . . When Benedet, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jackson and Trapilo made up the offensive line against the Raiders, the entire line was new from last season.
9. Josh McCown Ex-Bears Player of the Week: Jets quarterback Justin Fields had 307 yards of total offense with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in a 27-21 loss to the Dolphins. He was 20-for-27 for 226 yards passing and had seven rushes for 81 yards and a 43-yard touchdown.
10. Bear-ometer — 8-9: at Commanders (L); vs. Saints (W); at Ravens (L); at Bengals (W); vs. Giants (W); at Vikings (L); vs. Steelers (W); at Eagles (L); at Packers (L); vs. Browns (W); vs. Packers (L); at 49ers (W); vs. Lions (L).
