1 big thing Bears must fix during Week 5 bye week
The Chicago Bears are entering their bye week at 2-2 on the heels of a last-second blocked field goal win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. That win has given the Bears plenty of momentum entering their bye week.
Still, things have been far from perfect in head coach Ben Johnson's debut. Chicago ranks 19th in offense, averaging 328 yards per game. Things have been worse defensively, as the Bears rank 27th overall, allowing 379.5.
On the bright side, quarterback Caleb Williams has shown major strides under Johnson's watch. Furthermore, the Bears are expected to be much healthier after the bye. Currently on a two-game win streak, there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Chicago.
But on the other side of the coin, there is a glaring issue. The Bears are going through immense change across their offensive line. Their best use of the bye week would be figuring out what is the best starting five in front of Williams moving forward.
Left tackle conundrum
The Bears held a wide open competition at left tackle throughout the offseason. Ultimately, Braxton Jones won the battle has started at the position the first four weeks of the season. However, Week 4 saw a massive change of plans.
Jones was benched coming out of the second half, replaced by former undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. Second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo then entered the game at right tackle. He actually fared pretty well against the ferocious Maxx Crosby.
The bigger story coming out of the game was the fall of Jones, however. His 55 grade from Pro Football Focus tells the whole story, as he ranks 71/108 tackles. His pass blocking grade of 61.7 puts him 54th while his 47.2 run blocking grade puts him all the way down at 100. Jones' struggles against the run were clearly evident against the Raiders.
Clearly, Johnson has seen enough and decided to pull the plug. With Jones set to be a free agent after the season, his time is Chicago is likely coming to an end soon. However, he has spent the latter half of training camp and the first four week commanding the position. Now, the Bears are forced to switch on the fly.
Johnson must believe in Chicago's ability to adapt, since he is willing to bench Jones. However, the bye week will be a pivotal moment for both Trapilo and Benedet. What's important to note is that Darnell Wright, who didn't play in Week 4, missed Tuesday's practice as he continues to battle back from his elbow injury, via ESPN's Courtney Cronin. If Wright is forced to sit out again, both tackles will be pressed into action.
For now, one guaranteed is. And he must prove to be a stout figure on the left side, or face a quick pull from Johnson.
Bears turn to Theo Benedet
When the Bears return to action in Week 6, they are expected to turn to Benedet at left tackle, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. They're going to evaluate all of their options throughout the bye week. But all signs point to Benedet lining up on Williams' blindside for their Washington Commanders clash.
Benedet, who signed with the Bears as an UDFA following the 2024 draft, hadn't seen any NFL action prior to Week 4. Still, he made a strong first impression at the end of training camp and has now won Johnson and company over.
“He is a really good run blocker, first and foremost,” Johnson said of Benedet on Monday. “It probably took him just a minute to settle in (Sunday). It didn’t matter which side it was going to be on, right or left. He’s equally proficient in either one. He’s just had such a good spring and summer for us that I’ve got a lot of confidence.”
“There’s just a few times in pass protection that we got out of balance just a little bit, got a little top-heavy and our head was out in front of our rear end. We’ve got to clean that up. I really think he’s going to continue to learn. The more reps he gets, the better he’s going to get.”
Benedet will certainly have his work cut out for him in Week 6, at it'll be his first NFL start. His debut came with mixed reviews, but the lineman's 47.1 grade from PFF, which 92/108 tackles tells the bigger story. Benedet must prove he is up for the challenge and ready to be a starting NFL left tackle.
If so, then Johnson will be forced to make another change. Perhaps Trapilo gets an opportunity. But whatever the Bears' plan may be, they must exit their bye week confident in their offensive line moving forward.
Vikings Get More Devastating Injury News Ahead of 2-Week Europe Trip
There isn’t much that could have dampened the mood around the Minnesota Vikings following their 38-point drubbing of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but more unfortunate injury luck did its best in that regard the following day.
Left guard and first-round rookie Donovan Jackson hurt his wrist against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, though he was able to return to play the following week against the Bengals. However, surgery will now keep him sidelined for the next month.
“Vikings rookie LG Donovan Jackson had surgery on his wrist today, per Kevin O’Connell,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported via X. “Suffered the injury in Week 2 but played with it in Week 3. Expected back on the field after the Week 7 bye. Was on the injury report last week and was limited to two practices.”
Vikings rookie LG Donovan Jackson had surgery on his wrist today, per Kevin O'Connell. Suffered the injury in Week 2 but played with it in Week 3. Expected back on the field after the Week 7 bye. Was on the injury report last week and was limited in two practices.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 22, 2025
O’Connell went on to note that team doctors cleared Jackson to play against the Bengals, saying he ran no risk of making the existing injury any worse.
The team will start Blake Brandel in Jackson’s place while the latter recovers from his recent procedure, which will include the upcoming two-week trip to the United Kingdom. The Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday in Dublin, Ireland before squaring off with the Cleveland Browns the following weekend in London, England.
Donovan Jackson Latest in String of Injuries on Vikings’ Offensive Line
The offensive line was a primary focus of Minnesota’s over the offseason, though the unit has been hit hardest by the injury bug early in the year.
The Vikings used their sole first-round selection to add Jackson out of Ohio State with the No. 24 overall pick after spending big money to bring in two former Indianapolis Colts in free agency — starting center Ryan Kelly and starting right guard Will Fries.
Kelly suffered a concussion that knocked him out early against the Falcons and sidelined him for the game against Cincinnati Sunday. However, O’Connell said on Monday that Kelly is tracking to get back onto the field for next weekend’s overseas showdown with the Steelers.
Also out for the first two games of the season was star left tackle Christian Darrisaw, as he continued rehabilitating a knee injury he sustained during the middle of the 2024 campaign, which sidelined him for the remainder of that year.
Darrisaw returned Week 3 against the Bengals, and Kelly will join him in the starting lineup against Pittsburgh. Jackson, however, will be out. And given the timeline of Jackson’s expected return, Minnesota will go at least the first six games of its season without a fully healthy offensive line.
Vikings’ Banged Up Offensive Line Has Contributed to J.J. McCarthy’s Poor Play, Injury
The lack of five healthy starters on the O-line showed up in a major way in the Vikings’ only loss of the season, which came to Atlanta in Week 2.
The Falcons defense, which allowed 30 points to the Carolina Panthers‘ less-than-stellar offense on Sunday, held Minnesota to just six points. Atlanta notched 11 quarterback hits and six sacks in that game, and ended up injuring starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the process.
McCarthy sat out Week 3 and could miss between two and four games before it’s all said and done. However, the team announced Sunday that the second-year signal-caller will be joining the Vikings for their trip to Europe, which provides hope that he could return to the starting lineup either next game or in the contest that follows.
In the meantime, backup quarterback Carson Wentz will start. He produced 173 passing yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota’s 48-10 victory Sunday.
