Braxton Jones is arguably the biggest surprise of Chicago Bears training camp. Even though Justin Fields and other offensive teammates keep getting attention, people keep noticing the fat #70 sitting there at the starting left tackle spot. All thought the rookie pick in round 5 was nothing more than a brief experience during OTAs and minicamps. They quickly find out that the coaching staff meant business. They are serious about it.
People hesitated to believe it. Teams don’t entrust the blind side of a quarterback to rookies. Not unless their 1st round picks. There’s no way Jones could make such a strong impression, is there? Maybe it’s time to believe it based on how Luke Getsy talked about himself after practice on Friday.
“I think Braxton was a guy who (is) obviously a super athletic kid who we were excited about after Spring Ball. Then you step into the pads, and there’s no intimidation. I mean, you face Robert Quinn on your very first one-on-one pass rush. It’s a daunting thing, and he stepped up and did a great job. He answered the bell.
Even the notoriously pessimistic Bears media have started to see it.
We talked about it on the pod yesterday, but Braxton Jones played every snap at left tackle again today for the Bears’ first offense. A good sign for him after the first two padded practices.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 5, 2022
100% holding his own https://t.co/L1vLxiazPO
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) August 5, 2022
If Braxton Jones is the Day 1 plug and play OLT starter as a 5th round rookie from Southern Utah and just better than average to good, Ryan Poles 1st Draft is a success almost regardless of how the others make.
— Hub Arkush (@Hub_Arkush) August 5, 2022
Visual evidence also began to appear. Fans attending practice captured some exciting moments where Jones showed off his skills. The first came during a full team drill where the rookie was left in space against defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. Remember, this is a proven veteran who had six sacks last season for the Colts. Jones blocked him, allowing Justin Fields to find Byron Pringle for a first down.
Fields at Pringle #Bear pic.twitter.com/L8SZlTe0JJ
— John Herff (@JohnHerff_NFL) August 5, 2022
Later in practice, Jones worked on a running game. He got a good position from the snap, chasing Muhammad out of the lane and leaving enough room for David Montgomery for a great run.
David Montgomery doing his thing. pic.twitter.com/Yvnu1chqX9
— The Tape Never Lies Network (@TTNLNetwork) August 5, 2022
Braxton Jones is on the cusp of an ultra-rare achievement.
The Bears probably felt he had the potential to become a starting left tackle. No one could have predicted that it would arrive so quickly. Again, it becomes easier to accept by listening to the young man speak. He is well spoken and articulate. High intelligence is evident. Combine that with his excellent height, long arms, and athleticism to boot; these are all the basics needed for a successful NFL left tackle.
We don’t know what will happen to this situation. It’s rare for tackles to be major hits outside of the first two rounds of the repechage. Then again, the Bears already had one with Charles Leno. The Green Bay Packers have David Bakhtiari. He was a 4th round pick. So Braxton Jones becoming a stud isn’t crazy. He will have to prove it on the field. This first opportunity comes on August 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Post views: 1,552