Bears LT Ozzy Trapilo returns from physically unable-to-perform list

Ozzy Trapilo is back.

The left tackle whom the Bears feared would miss most, if not all of the 2026 season with a torn patellar tendon, was activated off the physically unable-to-perform list shortly before Sunday’s practice.

When it became clear to the Bears that Trapilo’s rehab was ahead of schedule, they decided they wanted to see him practice in full — and in pads — during training camp. Sunday marked the first step toward that goal.

Week 1 is four weeks away. Trapilo’s return to game action, whenever that may happen, will a boon to the team’s left tackle search. Braxton Jones was leading a three-person race before hurting his knee earlier this month. He returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity.

Trapilo started six times at left tackle last year and seemed to be the team’s answer at the position for 2026 before suffering the serious knee injury in the playoff win against the Packers.

“There’s others that never come back from it … ” offensive line coach Dan Roushar said Thursday. “I’ve said this to him a number of times — I’d rather be a day too late than a day too early putting him on the field. As he integrates back to practice, he’s gonna have to demonstrate that he can — and we have to make sure that we’re not pushing him beyond his comfort level, his boundaries of his health. … It’ll be a process. His actions in practice will demonstrate to us his readiness.”

Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills split snaps in Saturday’s exhibition game against the Browns. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said both were inconsistent.

“It wasn’t as clean as we’d love it to be going forward,” he said. “And that’s kind of why there still continues to be an open competition for the position. But I think there were some encouraging things we continue to teach from and coach from and grow from.”

The Bears waived three players with injury designations: cornerback KC Eziomume, receiver Kyron Hudson and safety Gervarrius Owens.