The Chicago Bears suffered a devastating blow to their offensive line in Week 16 when promising young left tackle Braxton Jones sustained a horrific ankle injury against the Detroit Lions. The gruesome injury occurred in the second quarter and immediately appeared season-ending in nature. Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown confirmed on Monday that Jones will indeed miss the remainder of the season and require surgery.
Jones, a third-year pro who has developed into a stalwart at left tackle, suffered the injury when Lions defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike landed awkwardly on his right leg. As Jones went to the ground, his left leg and ankle buckled sickeningly underneath him. Trainers immediately rushed out, stabilizing the ankle in an air cast before carting Jones back to the locker room.
Backup tackle Larry Borom replaced Jones and is a candidate to start Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks. Rookie Kiran Amegadjie, who filled in capably at left tackle when Jones was in concussion protocol earlier this season, was a healthy scratch against Detroit.
“Obviously that decision was based off of Larry’s versatility because Larry can play on both sides, plays right and left,” Brown said of starting Borom over Amegadjie. “Kiran has been a left tackle. As far as O-line being a developing position, the more opportunities you have guys that can be versatile and play different spots. But we’ll see how the week goes. We’ll give all guys an opportunity to go compete.”
– Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown
The Bears also lost left guard Teven Jenkins to a reaggravated calf injury in the second quarter. Jenkins has an outside chance to suit up against Seattle, but his status remains very much in doubt. Losing two-fifths of the starting offensive line is a worst-case scenario for a Bears team already decimated by injuries.
Major Setback for Emerging Left Tackle
For Jones, the injury represents an incredibly disappointing end to a season that saw him take major strides and establish himself as the Bears’ left tackle of the present and future. A fifth-round pick out of Southern Utah in 2022, Jones surprisingly won the starting job as a rookie and started 17 games.
He carried that momentum into 2023, allowing just 2 sacks and committing only 3 penalties across nearly 1,000 snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Jones as the NFL’s 10th best pass-blocking tackle this season. At just 24 years old, he looked poised to lock down the Bears’ left tackle job for the next decade.
Huge Blow to Bears’ Playoff Hopes
For the Bears, losing their starting left tackle with the playoffs in reach is nothing short of catastrophic. Chicago currently sits at 8-7, one game behind the Seahawks for the NFC’s final wild card spot. A win on Thursday would pull the Bears even and give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle.
But with a banged-up offensive line now missing its best player, an already inconsistent offense could struggle mightily to move the ball and put up points. Second-year quarterback Dalton Miller, who has taken a big step forward this season, faces an even tougher task without his blindside protector.
The Bears wrap up the regular season with very winnable games against the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. At full strength, they would have been favored to win out and claim a wild card spot. The Jones injury now makes that a much taller task for a team that hasn’t made the postseason since 2020.
Potential Long-Term Impact
Braxton Jones’ gruesome injury carries ramifications beyond just the 2024 season for the Bears. Depending on the severity, ankle injuries can sometimes linger and impact players even after they return to the field. Chicago has to hope Jones doesn’t lose any of his quick feet and agility that made him such an effective pass blocker.
The injury could also alter the Bears’ offseason plans. With a huge question mark now at left tackle, general manager Tom Benson may need to invest significant draft capital or free agent dollars on offensive line insurance. That would take away resources from addressing other pressing roster needs.
Every team has to deal with injuries, but losing a cornerstone left tackle right before the postseason is an absolutely brutal blow. The Bears’ playoff hopes took a major hit with Braxton Jones being ruled out. His absence will have a massive ripple effect on the entire offense and team. Chicago can only hope he makes a full recovery and returns to his ascendant form in 2025.
