Insider shares one offensive change Bears could implement following early bye

One Chicago Bears starter could be on the outs. On Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler wrote about changes we might see from teams coming off a Week 5 bye, including the Bears.

An early break is potentially beneficial. According to ESPN, from 2021-24, teams scheduled off in Week 5 have a .567 post-bye win percentage, making it the second-most-advantageous week to have a bye, following Week 8 (.575).

Last season, teams with a Week 5 bye posted a .673 win percentage from Weeks 6-18. The Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles were a combined 33-6 (.846), while the Tennessee Titans, who went 2-11 (.154), bogged down the overall percentage. The Bears will try to duplicate the success of the Chargers, Eagles and Lions, and that starts up front at the line of scrimmage.

Caleb Williams' blindside protection a major area of concern

Protecting quarterback Caleb Williams should have been one of the biggest priorities during the bye week. While the Bears offensive line ranks fourth in ESPN's pass-block win rate, a weakness exists at left tackle. Braxton Jones entered the season on the first-team unit but struggled in four starts before being benched 28 snaps into Week 4's 25-24 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4). 

Theo Benedet, a 2024 undrafted free agent, replaced him after beginning the game at left tackle in place of injured starter Darnell Wright (elbow). Fowler noted the change could become more permanent in Week 6.

"The Bears could make that switch this week," he wrote. "Jones battled through an ankle injury in the offseason but hasn't quite been himself since. How he feels coming off the bye is something to monitor," Fowler continued.

Through four games, Jones has allowed 15 pressures and two sacks on 126 pass-rush opportunities, per Pro Football Focus data. He has the fourth-lowest efficiency rating among 57 tackles with at least 200 pass-block snaps.

If the Bears (2-2) go in another direction coming out of the bye, it could mark the beginning of the end of Jones' time with the franchise. The 2022 fifth-round pick (No. 168 overall) is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Chicago has won two in a row after a 0-2 start, and its upcoming schedule following Monday's road game against the Washington Commanders (3-2) is manageable. The Bears play the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants, teams that are a combined 5-15, from Weeks 7-10. 

Currently last in the tough NFC North, they have an excellent opportunity to rise in the standings heading into the back half of the schedule. Failing to solve the riddle at left tackle could prevent that from occurring. Whatever decision head coach Ben Johnson lands on, the Bears can't afford for him to make the wrong one.