Rookie offensive lineman Braxton Jones is showing that he is the future at left tackle.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was a big winner after the team’s preseason debut in 2022. His rookies were the ones who generated a comeback from a 14-0 first-half deficit. They helped hold down the Kansas City Chiefs so they could score 19 straight points for the victory.
Many people questioned the picks Poles made, but they came through.
One of the rookies who helped was offensive lineman Braxton Jones. He started in place of the likely starter when the regular season begins, Riley Reiff.
Jones looked like a veteran on the field. He switched off double teams to pick up blitzing defenders with ease. He held his own against starting-caliber pass rushers.
The plan for Jones this season is to have him be Reiff’s backup. He can learn from the veteran player while picking up some snaps himself. That way he is ready to take over as the starting left tackle next season. Reiff is signed only for one season.
So far, though, Braxton is showing that he could be ready this season. That makes this season a little better if he can get in there and do well.
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Jones has impressed since early camps
Jones was the Chicago Bears’ fifth-round pick. He was expected to be eased in slowly, with Teven Jenkins slated at left tackle. However, the coaches first moved Jenkins to the right side and then to the second team.
Jones took over on the left side and did well. By the time minicamps and OTAs were over, He was the starting left tackle on the depth chart.
The Bears were about to enter training camp with the rookie starting at left tackle. That was, however, until Poles went out and signed Reiff right before the start of camp. That signing was a monumental move.
Jones has impressed his teammates. Left guard Cody Whitehair talked highly of Jones.
Braxton’s gonna be a good player. The way he studies, the way he understands stuff. He’s very athletic. He’s got great length. He uses his hands well. I really like where Braxton’s at right now. You can tell the kid really wants to be a good player…I think our department did a really good job finding him.
Jones is playing freely at the moment. With Reiff signed, he knows he doesn’t have to be the starter. As long as Reiff is healthy, Jones can learn the position more and do it in a comfortable setting.
The great thing about Jones is that he enjoys going up against Robert Quinn in practice. He knows that going up against a great player like him only makes him better.
I think the biggest thing is taking the reps each day, even against some of the best players like Robert Quinn. Just getting better every day and looking at those reps and taking as many reps as I can, that has kind of gotten me to the feeling of like, ‘OK, let’s go, we gotta do this.’ So taking those reps against big-time players has helped me a little bit to get me ready for running with the ones.
If Jones and the rest of the rookies continue to do well, it really bodes well for the rebuild. There is a big group of rookies on this roster and the future of the team is bright if just a few of them turn out to be good players.
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