Bears' young tackles were thrown into the fire in Week 4 and how they responded will lead to some big conversations during the bye
Going into Week 4, the Chicago Bears had one goal in mind to ensure a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders: contain Maxx Crosby and do not let him wreck the game.
A similar goal every team that faces one of the top pass rushers has in place before going up against the Raiders. Two years earlier, the Bears faired well against Crosby with a rookie right tackle in Darnell Wright. Two years later, the Bears were forced to rely on another inexperience player to answer the call after ruling Wright out before the game.
Starting in Wright's place was second-year undrafted free agent Theo Benedet, making his first career NFL start against one of the most relentless players in the league. It went how anyone might expect.
Early in the game, Crosby was wrecking drives against the Bears. He was constantly in the backfield making tackles and applying pressure. On multiple occasions, Crosby sat back, watched the quarterback's eyes, and lifted his arms to bat down the pass. One of which Crosby was able to come down with for an interception on the Bears' third offensive drive.
That, by no means, is a discredit to the way Benedet was playing on the right side. The Raiders were moving Crosby around, before and after the snap, and everyone was struggling to account for him. A change needed to be made and with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter, one was made.
Enter Ozzy Trapilo
Second-round rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo made his NFL debut in Week 4 after being a healthy inactive the first three games. A few days back, head coach Ben Johnson noted Trapilo was developing well in practice and eventually the team would have to call on the rookie. That moment finally came on the sixth offensive drive when Trapilo took over at right tackle and Benedet replaced Braxton Jones at left tackle.
“We knew going into the game that Ozzy was likely to get some snaps for us,” Johnson explained. “He’s a guy that just keeps getting better each and every week, and so, we were just at the point where we weren’t doing a whole lot on offense, and we felt like that might give us a little spark and ignite us a little bit on offense there.”
The change proved to be a big decision for the Bears. Crosby's name wasn't mentioned as often throughout the remainder of the game while the two young tackles keep quarterback Caleb Williams clean in the pocket. For Trapilo to step in on the fly, that was impressive stuff from the rookie.
“You are always going to be ready,” Trapilo said, via Brad Biggs. “It’s a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. It’s hard to tell now (how I did). Obviously, the opponent is a pretty good player. Great opportunity for me, especially being a young guy, to go out there and face someone like (Crosby). So, it’s hard to tell without seeing the tape. There are always plays you are going to want back. I think as a team we would say that as well. There is a lot of stuff we wish we would have back.”
Benedet felt the same way making his first career start and eventually shifting over to left tackle. There's a lot of plays he would like to have back, but when Benedet and Trapilo were on the field as the two tackles, the offense got a spark. Which sets up interesting conversations for the days ahead.
Offensive tackle conversations will get even louder during the bye week
When Jones was removed from the lineup at left tackle, no injury was reported or shared after the game. Jones was told not to speak with the media in the locker room, either. As it stands, it seems as though the fourth-year starter was benched.
This comes one week after Jones put together one of the best games of his career in pass protection, after two questionable outings to open the season. The decision to name Jones the starter at left tackle was a late decision made just before the season opener, and even when it was made, everyone knew Jones would have a short leash due to his consistency issues.
On the right side, Wright suffered an elbow injury in Week 3 and briefly left in the first-half, but managed to tough through it and finish the game. However, the injury forced Wright to miss the game in Week 4 but even before then, the third-year tackle struggled with penalties this season.
As it stands, the coaching staff now has quality snaps on tape from all four tackles going into the bye week. The team's next game won't be played until 14 days from today against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football.
If a change were to be made in the starting lineup, of any kind, now would be the time to have those conversations. But, what would that look like?
Do the Bears put Benedet at left tackle and keep Wright on the right side? Does Wright kick over to left tackle with Benedet and Trapilo vying for the right tackle spot? Are the Bears even comfortable starting Benedet or Trapilo? Was the decision to pull Jones from the line just a one week decision?
There's a lot of questions surrounding the offensive tackle position for the Bears going into the bye week and we'll see if any major changes are made when the team returns to action in Week 6. But, for the time being, Benedet and Trapilo made the most of their opportunity to step up.
Browns Insider Gives Dillon Gabriel Good News Ahead of Week 3
The Cleveland Browns are adamant that Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, despite Dillon Gabriel getting into the game in Week 2.
Flacco was playing so poorly during the Browns’ Week 2 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens that he was benched for Gabriel. However, after the game, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear that he isn’t making a quarterback change.
However, Browns insider Tony Rizzo of ESPN believes Gabriel will get into game action this week as he expects Flacco to struggle against the Green Bay Packers.
“Gabriel is going to play, it’s just a matter of when,” Rizzo said. “Tony (Grossi) asked the coaches, and the coaches said ‘We aren’t going to think about that.’ I’m going to tell you if the Browns are getting beat, 10-0 or 14-3 at halftime, I would not be surprised to see coach Stefanksi put in Gabriel.”
Gabriel did play well when he got into game action last week, so perhaps Stefanksi does go back to him if Flacco struggles.
The Packers are one of the top teams in the NFL, and Rizzo doesn’t expect Cleveland’s offense to have much success against Green Bay’s defense.
In relief of Flacco in Week 2, Gabriel went 3-for-3 for 19 yards and a touchdown when he got into the game, which is why Rizzo expects the rookie to play again this week.
Browns Coach Remains Confident in Flacco
Although Gabriel played well and is a rookie, Stefanski plans to stick with Flacco.
After Week 2, Stefanski confirmed Flacco would be the starter. Then, again on Monday, Stefanski doubled down on Flacco remaining the starter.
“Yeah, you know, we didn’t play well enough on offense, and we didn’t coach well enough on offense, and it’s never going to be about one person,” Stefanski said on Sept. 15. “Joe (Flacco) knows there’s plays that he can be better, and it obviously starts with protecting the ball in this game, and he understands that, and that’s our focus moving forward.”
Flacco and Cleveland’s offense have struggled to put up points in two weeks, but Stefanski is confident in his veteran quarterback.
“Well, I think we’re two games into this season. We are definitely going to be playing better as a team as this season goes on, and certainly the goal is to always get better as the calendar turns. So that’s what we’ll focus on,” Stefanski added. “Obviously, there’s things that we know we need to do better. Not scoring enough points in the first two games, and that’s a combination of things. It’s run game, it’s pass game, it’s what we’re asking the guys to do. So, we’ll make sure that we put a plan together to let these guys have success versus Green Bay.”
Flacco has thrown for 489 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in two games this season.
Cleveland Loved What They Saw in Gabriel
Gabriel getting into game action wouldn’t be a surprise.
The rookie quarterback has played well in training camp and will likely play games this season.
Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot says Cleveland loved what the team saw in Gabriel.
“If it’s going well and the Browns are scoring points, Flacco will continue on. But if he’s turning the ball over or taking sacks, the Browns will hand the reins to Gabriel without hesitation,” Cabot wrote on August 31. “They loved what they saw of Gabriel in camp and preseason games, and won’t hesitate to start him even if it’s early in the season.”
Gabriel could very well start games down the stretch, but for the time being, Flacco is the starter.
