{"id":134656,"date":"2022-08-10T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=134656"},"modified":"2022-08-10T08:46:57","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T12:46:57","slug":"chicago-bears-braxton-jones-strong-vote-of-confidence-from-riley-reiff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2022\/08\/10\/chicago-bears-braxton-jones-strong-vote-of-confidence-from-riley-reiff\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bears Rookie OT Braxton Jones\u2019 \u2018Ceiling is Sky High\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears are conducting a bit of an experiment with rookie left tackle Braxton Jones<\/a>. Drafted in the fifth round, Jones would become the second consecutive Bears rookie to open the season as a starter joining last year\u2019s 151st-overall pick, Larry Borom<\/a>. Borom wound up starting eight games as a rookie.<\/p>\n

He had been mired in a battle<\/a> with veteran newcomer Riley Reiff<\/a> for first-team reps in camp. Reiff began his Bears tenure playing left tackle, his preferred position. He has been moved to the right side with the continued emergence of Jones.<\/p>\n

His coaches have raved about what he has been able to do while protecting the franchise in Justin Fields<\/a>‘ blindside.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Reiff spoke with the media and talked about what Jones has done to lock up the job to this point and what his future may hold.<\/p>\n

Bears Rookie Gets Strong Vote of Confidence from Vet<\/h2>\n

Fast Riser<\/h3>\n

Jones\u2019 ascension from rookie minicamp through OTAs is well-documented<\/a>. Training camp has allowed the rookie to entrench himself even further. That is no small task for any rookie in the face of clear competition let alone one taken in the later rounds of the draft. It\u2019s even rarer that those rookies play left tackle.<\/p>\n

Reiff spoke briefly about the Bears\u2019 young tackles including Borom and Teven Jenkins<\/a> when camp first opened. But, having signed a day before, he could only say they were talented young guys.<\/p>\n

The 11-year veteran had more to say after Tuesday\u2019s Family Fun Fest practice at Soldier Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a super-talented individual. He\u2019s experiencing some good edge rushers\u2026As a rookie, it\u2019s hard. But it\u2019s good to take those lumps now. But he\u2019s holding his own.\u201d<\/p>\n

That is similar to what head coach Matt Eberflus<\/a> said of his impressive young bookend earlier in camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just absorbed all of the information and executing,\u201d Eberflus told reporters, \u201cHe\u2019s done that. And he\u2019s showing that it\u2019s not too big for him. When you come in as a rookie sometimes the spots are big. And, not to say that he\u2019s been perfect. Because he\u2019s a rookie and he\u2019s had his moments. But he\u2019s doing a good job. We like where he is. We like he\u2019s progressing. He\u2019s got a long way to go. But we like where he\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones was honest about where he thought he was when he met the media<\/a> as the offense was suffering pre-snap penalties early on in camp.<\/p>\n

Those have been cleaned up and Jones has been a part of that. Reiff sees something in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ceiling is super high with that kid,\u201d continued Reiff, \u201cLong, can move, smart. It\u2019s just seeing some mental things, seeing a lot of reps, seeing what\u2019s coming, and he\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Regional History<\/h3>\n

Joe Haeg<\/a> is the last player to make double-digit starts as a rookie tackle, per Stathead<\/a>, notching 14 starts at right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts in 2016.<\/p>\n

The last time a rookie made double-digit starts at left tackle?<\/p>\n

Interestingly enough, Marshall Newhouse<\/a> in 2011 for the Green Bay Packers. He started 15 games for a Packers squad that went 15-1with the top-ranked offense in the regular season. They lost to the New York Giants in the Divisional Round, though.<\/p>\n

Getting that level of consistency on the left side would be a boon regardless of the cost. Jones\u2019 bargain status makes it look even better if he does indeed pan out. It is very encouraging that he has been able to hold onto his first-team reps this deep into camp. But he has an even bigger challenge ahead of him.<\/p>\n

Newhouse only had one more season as a starter for the Packers and two more as a starter for the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders in his 10-year career.<\/p>\n

He last played in 2020 appearing in four games for the Tennessee Titans.<\/p>\n

Borom is listed as Jones’ primary backup and Jenkins — a 2021 second-round pick of the previous regime — the No. 2 behind Reiff at right tackle on the Bears’ unofficial depth chart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speed of the Game<\/h3>\n

We don\u2019t have to re-visit what happened the last time<\/a> a Bears rookie thought they were up to speed. So there is no need to rush to anoint Jones as that franchise left tackle this organization hasn\u2019t had since it cut Charles Leno<\/a> two offseasons ago. Not when his biggest test comes on Saturday when they play their first preseason game.<\/p>\n

The tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs has several key storylines worth monitoring before, during, and after the game.<\/p>\n

Bears general manager Ryan Poles<\/a> facing the team he cut his teeth with. Former Bears head coach Matt Nagy\u2019s return to Soldier Field. Bears wideout Byron Pringle<\/a> is also facing his old team. But he is dealing with an injury that figures to keep him out of this one.<\/p>\n

Chicago Bears OL Open to Position Change Amid Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n