Braxton Jones explains why he re-signed with Bears

For the second straight offseason, the Chicago Bears will have a competition at left tackle that features some new and familiar faces, including four-year veteran Braxton Jones, who signed a one-year deal to return to Chicago this season. While it's not a complete surprise that Jones is back, the expectation was that he would depart in free agency. But that likely changed when Ozzy Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon during the team's wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.

Now, Trapilo is expected to miss most of the 2026 season, and Chicago is preparing for a battle between Jones, Theo Benedet and newcomer Jedrick Wills Jr. So why did Jones elect to return to the Bears ? "Early on [there were] talks at the Combine [about possibly signing elsewhere], but when it came down to it, the Bears in the situation we have here is the best for myself," Jones told ChicagoBears.

com . "I'm not choosing comfortability but knowing I've been here for the last four years … putting that all into the picture kind of made the decision itself. " Jones feels like the early front runner after serving as a three-year starter as a former fifth-round pick.

But he was benched early last season following struggles as he returned from injury, where he was replaced by Benedet, who was replaced by Trapilo. But after an offseason to get healthy, Jones is ready to show he can get back to his best. "Being able to re-sign with the Bears for another year and just the opportunity that is presented is amazing," Jones said.