The Chicago Bears are facing a major challenge after rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a season-ending knee injury during their Wild-Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Trapilo’s ruptured patellar tendon required surgery in January, leaving his availability for the upcoming season uncertain and putting the Bears’ offensive line in jeopardy.
With recovery for patellar tendon injuries typically taking six to twelve months, as reported by Kole Noble and Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports, the Bears appear to be bracing for the possibility that Trapilo may miss the entire 2026 season.
In response, the team has quickly signed offensive lineman Theo Benedet to a one-year contract for 2026, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. This move indicates preparations for filling the potential void left by Trapilo’s extended rehabilitation period.
Bears’ Strategy Points to Preparing Without Trapilo in 2026
The swift re-signing of Theo Benedet suggests that the Chicago Bears are not counting on Trapilo’s return at the start of next season. Instead of delaying his contract discussions, general manager Ryan Poles opted to secure Benedet with a short-term deal, potentially to ease roster planning during the offseason.
Benedet, who lost his starting left tackle position to Trapilo due to injury in Week 12 last season, provides a solid backup option despite being considered average at protecting the blind side. His statistics from Pro Football Focus underscore this balance: Benedet allowed two sacks and 15 pressures over 283 pass-block snaps, while Trapilo, in eight starts, gave up two sacks and 26 pressures on 333 snaps.
These numbers indicate no clear assurance that Benedet would outperform Trapilo, but considering the uncertainty surrounding Trapilo’s recovery, retaining Benedet is a logical precaution.
Offensive Line Stability Crucial Ahead of Caleb Williams’ Second Year
The Bears have worked hard to bolster their offensive line following a difficult 2024, where they allowed the most sacks in the NFL with 4.0. However, last season they improved dramatically, reducing that figure to just 1.3 sacks, according to Team Rankings, thanks in part to better protection schemes and quarterback Caleb Williams’ ability to extend plays and make quicker decisions.
Despite these improvements, protecting Williams remains a top priority, and the Bears cannot afford to rely on Trapilo recovering fully, especially given the risk he might never return to his previous performance level. This makes the signing of Benedet a critical move to safeguard the offensive line for the early part of next season.
Outlook: Benedet’s Role and Bears’ Depth Chart Concerns
Whether Theo Benedet can reclaim the starting left tackle spot is still an open question. If he falls short, the Bears will need to depend heavily on the depth they have built behind him to prevent the offensive line from becoming a liability.
The success of this strategy will be closely watched, as an unstable offensive line could pose serious risks to the Bears’ offense in 2026. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how the team manages this uncertain situation moving forward.
“Patellar tendon injuries can take 6-12 months to properly rehab,”
?Kole Noble, A to Z Sports
“Patellar tendon injuries can take 6-12 months to properly rehab,”
?Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports
Quick Bears roster note: Theo Benedet, who was an ERFA, is signed for 2026 (one year, $1M).
Benedet, a college RT, had never played a snap at LT before training camp. Started 8 games. Finished 4th in ESPN's run block win rate among OTs. Now gets a full offseason to train at LT.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) February 5, 2026
