Ozzy Trapilo Forces Bears to Reevaluate Their Approach at Left Tackle
Chicago has spent the entire season searching for stability at left tackle, cycling through Braxton Jones, Theo Benedet, and second-rookie Ozzy Trapilo in hopes that someone would seize the job.
On Sunday, with Jones on IR and Benedet ruled out late in the week, Trapilo got his chance and delivered the kind of performance that forces an organization to rethink its depth chart…
And maybe its entire long-term plan.
On 41 pass protection reps, Trapilo gave up just:
- 1 pressure
- 0 sacks
- 0 quarterback hits
- And an 88.4 pass-pro effectiveness grade
For a position that has been Chicago’s most glaring weakness, this was easily the best left tackle performance the Bears have gotten all season.
Right Time, Right Opponent, Right Message
GettyChicago Bears Rookie LT Ozzy Trapilo
The Bears’ offensive line overhaul has otherwise delivered exactly what GM Ryan Poles hoped for.
Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright have formed one of the NFL’s most consistent interior to right side units. Left tackle, though, has been a bit of a struggle.
Jones held the job early, but a knee injury on Oct. 25 put him on IR. Benedet had already begun rotating in before that, but his own decline (eight pressures allowed in 35 “true passing sets” over the previous two games) opened the door.
When Benedet then suffered a quad injury in Thursday’s practice, every sign pointed to Trapilo’s number being called.
“It’s come full circle,” Trapilo said afterward. “Going in, there were definitely nerves for my first start… but after the first snap, you’re just kind of playing football, something I’ve done for a long time.”
Those nerves disappeared quickly. After an early strip sack (one caused more by Caleb Williams drifting too deep rather than any breakdown in protection) the Bears didn’t allow another sack the rest of the afternoon.
The First Test in a Brutal Stretch
GettyChicago Bears Rookie LT Ozzy Trapilo
But this test is only the beginning. Cause the Bears now enter one of the most punishing pass-rush stretches in football:
- The Eagles dominant front four
- Myles Garrett (who’s on pace to break the single season sack record) and the Browns
- Two matchups with the Micah Parsons led Packers
- Then a matchup against the 49ers before facing Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions in Week 18
If Trapilo can hold up (or even continue trending upward) Chicago’s left tackle conversation becomes something very different heading into December.
Sure one strong start doesn’t finalize the depth chart. It doesn’t make Braxton Jones irrelevant or prevent Benedet from returning to form.
But it does force the Bears to see what they have.
Trapilo’s tape against Pittsburgh was good for anyone, let alone a rookie. And when a second-round pick plays like that at a premium position, you don’t go back to the rotation unless you have to.
Chicago has been waiting for clarity at left tackle all year. On Sunday, they might have finally gotten it.
Ozzy Trapilo is giving the Bears every reason to rethink everything at LT.
BREAKING: Four referees who officiated the game between the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins have been suspended pending investigation after the NFL discovered they overlooked multiple Dolphins violations that significantly affected the outcome of the game, causing the Washington Commanders to unfairly lose...
In a stunning turn of events following the Washington Commanders’ heartbreaking 13–16 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 (played November 16, 2025 in Madrid), the NFL has announced the suspension of four referees who officiated the game. The league’s investigation uncovered several significant errors made by the officiating crew that directly impacted the outcome of the game, leaving Commanders fans and players questioning the fairness of the contest.
The game, held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Spain, saw the Commanders mount a late‑game push after trailing earlier. However, the momentum shifted when key calls—or lack thereof—went against Washington, culminating in Miami’s field‑goal victory in overtime.
One of the most glaring missed calls occurred in overtime when the Commanders’ quarterback Marcus Mariota threw an interception on the first play of the extra period, but prior to that Washington had missed a 56‑yard field goal attempt with just seconds remaining in regulation—an opportunity to avoid overtime entirely.
Another pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter when the Commanders’ offense reached the red zone and a holding penalty should have been called to stop the Dolphins from gaining favorable field position; the no‑call allowed Miami to regain momentum and eventually send the game to overtime.
The NFL’s decision to suspend the four referees underscores the seriousness with which the league handles officiating issues. In an official statement, the NFL reiterated its commitment to fairness and accountability, stressing that these suspensions are part of an ongoing review process to uphold the integrity of the game.
For the Commanders, the loss drops their season record to 3–8. Despite the frustration, head coach Dan Quinn remains determined to refocus his team. “We’ll take this one on the chin and move forward. Our focus is on the next game, and we will continue to fight,” Quinn stated.
As the NFL continues its investigation into the officiating crew, the Commanders and their supporters await further updates, hoping for accountability and transparency in the handling of this controversial situation.
Tennessee Titans Must Find Answer to Inexcusable Run Game
When a rookie quarterback is the team's leading rusher, there's clearly a problem. In the Tennessee Titans' tenth loss of the season, QB Cam Ward led the way with six carries for 37 yards with his first career rushing touchdown.
He finished with career highs in rushing attempts and yards, two numbers the team never expected. Having just activated running back Kalel Mullings off the IR, he was a non-factor as neither RB Tony Pollard nor RB Tyjae Spears made any sort of impact in their 30-24 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Downfall Of Tony Pollard
Despite having three straight 1,000-yard seasons, it's going to take a miracle for Pollard to reach that total this season. He's averaging a career low 3.9 yards per carry, something the Titans can't be happy with. Sure, this team's offensive line hasn't been great, but that doesn't excuse the fact that the 28-year-old isn't holding his weight.
Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal to come to Tennessee last season. Thankfully for the Titans, he has a potential out next season, which would change his contract to a two-year, $14.5M deal with only $2M in dead cap, according to Spotrac.
Should the team move on from Pollard in the offseason, they'll need to figure out if Spears is RB1 material. Pollard continued to carry the workload against Seattle as he had 11 carries for just 20 yards. Even though he had five more carries than Ward, he finished with 17 less rushing yards. Spears had just three carries for four yards as Ward was forced to throw the ball 42 times.
Tyjae Spears Looks To Flip The Script
Moving forward, the Titans' best option at the RB position seems to be Spears. The 24-year-old may be injury-prone, but he's shown signs of greatness when given the opportunities. For whatever reason, Tennessee went back to Pollard as RB1 despite Spears outperforming him in past weeks.
Spears may not be a true NFL RB1, but his combination with Mullings could unlock a new potential for this team. The run game isn't going anywhere until their offensive line gets better, but having a pair of young, fast, hungry running backs could make a huge difference.
For what it's worth, Spears is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, which is a career high. It's come in a smaller sample size, so it'll be interesting to see if he can keep up this pace for the remainder of the season. He's 80 yards shy of 1,000 in his career, a total he should reach within the next three weeks.
Undo
