The Chicago Bears scored a big win in the 2022 NFL draft when they landed Southern Utah left tackle Braxton Jones. After a rocky start to his rookie year, he became one of the team’s most reliable blockers. His athleticism and technique made him valuable in their efforts to improve the trenches. However, things haven’t seemed right since the 2024 season began. Jones has allowed 12 quarterback pressures in the first five games, putting him on pace for 51 this year. That would be by far the worst of his career.
It feels like the 25-year-old has regressed, and evidence suggests the Bears saw it coming. Their selection of Yale tackle Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd round a few months ago backs this up. But how did it come to this? The origins likely stem from the neck injury Jones suffered in week two of last season. In the previous 12 games leading into that incident, he’d allowed only 21 pressures in 12 games. Since the injury, he has allowed 43 pressures in the last 14 games. That is going from 1.75 pressures per game to 3.07.
Anyone who knows anything about offensive line play knows that the position’s physicality puts a lot of torque on the spine. That means neck or back injuries are highly problematic. Remember, Jones didn’t get surgery to repair his neck. He rested for a month on IR in hopes the pain would dissipate enough for him to play. That means the underlying problem, whatever it is, still exists. This goes a long way in explaining why he just hasn’t looked the same for the past several months.
It might be unwise to assume Braxton Jones is a lock for any long-term spot. While everybody seems focused on the interior offensive line for obvious reasons, left tackle might be an area GM Ryan Poles is forced to look at next off-season. Amegadjie will figure into the picture somehow, but there is also the possibility of eyeing a possible upgrade in the draft. Jones has 13 games left to somehow get things turned around. It is hard to see him doing that, unfortunately. Not unless that injury magically goes away.
