Chicago Bears Position Battle Updates After Week 2 of Training Camp

With two weeks of training camp in the books, here's where the biggest position battles stand for the Bears.

Chicago Bears offensive tackles Kiran Amegadjie and Theo Benedet at practice. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Chicago Bears caught the NFL by surprise last year, winning an NFC North championship and pulling off a miraculous Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. But this is a new season, and head coach Ben Johnson months ago made it clear that nothing the team accomplished in 2025 will have any bearing on 2026. Everyone has to start at 0-0 and prove they deserve a playoff spot.

After the usual roster turnover this offseason, the Bears entered training camp with a few starting positions up for grabs, primarily at left tackle, center, and cornerback. Have they gained any clarity on these position battles after two weeks of practice? Let's take a look.

Left Tackle

Chicago Bears OT Braxton Jones walks on the field during Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As Ozzy Trapilo continues to recover from his season-ending ruptured patellar tendon, the Bears are once again in need of a starting left tackle for Week 1. Braxton Jones entered training camp as the favorite to win the starting job and has kept his challengers at bay through two weeks of practice. Bears reporter Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune confirmed on SiriusXM NFL radio on Monday that Jones has been reliably consistent in camp thus far.

Jones did leave training camp practice with an injury last week, but Ben Johnson told Bears reporters Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns on Saturday that it's not a serious injury. I would say that as long as Jones recovers sometime before the Bears' final preseason game, he's a lock to be the Week 1 starter.

Additionally, the latest Ozzy Trapilo injury update is terrific news for the Bears, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that Trapilo could be back earlier than expected.

Center

Chicago Bears OT Theo Benedet and center Logan Jones warm up during practice. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When the Bears drafted Logan Jones with a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, I expected there to be a fierce training camp battle between the rookie and veteran Garrett Bradbury for the starting center spot. Instead, Bradbury has taken all the reps with the starters while Jones as worked with the backups.

Barring a significant injury to Bradbury, it looks like the Bears' center competition has already been decided.

Cornerback, Slot and Boundary

Chicago Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson signs autographs during Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Kyler Gordon starting training camp on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) and no end in sight, the Bears found themselves in need of not one but two starting cornerbacks, one to play slot and the other to play on the boundary opposite of Jaylon Johnson. Unfortunately for the Bears, neither position battle is anywhere close to settled.

Injuries are the main culprit in these starting roles remaining in flux. After Coby Bryant was carted off from practice with a leg injury, Cam Lewis, who had been taking reps in the slot, was moved into Bryant's place. Lewis himself was then injured, though it sounds like he's going to be okay after a short recovery. Rookie Malik Muhammad got some first-team reps at the slot, but that's a tough position for a rookie to play.

As for the boundary, Tyrique Stevenson was expected to be one of the top candidates for this role at the start of camp, but he continues to struggle with consistency, the No. 1 thing that Dennis Allen wants from his defense in training camp. Muhammad was another contender for the job, but, as aforementioned, he is a rookie and may need more time to develop.

At the end of the day, I can't say for certain that there's any clarity on the slot and boundary cornerback position battles, even after two weeks of practice. Hopefully, these minor injuries stop occurring and Dennis Allen will at least be able to work with the same unit consistently rather than cycling through multiple players.

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