Americans love underdogs. It's kind of been a thing ever since the Revolutionary War. There is a certain delight in watching somebody come from nowhere to achieve their dream. The Chicago Bears have seen their share of great underdog stories over the years. One has been quietly unfolding this season, but it feels like fans haven't taken proper notice of it. That is Theo Benedet. The young offensive lineman arrived as an undrafted free agent last year. He looked in line for a roster spot, but an injury knocked him out of training camp, ending his chances.
He returned this summer, starting from scratch with a new coaching staff. Benedet battled his way into the left tackle competition and eventually secured the primary swing tackle job. He got his first real playing time last Sunday against Dallas when Darnell Wright briefly exited with an elbow injury. Well, it appears that ailment is still giving the Bears' right tackle problems. Based on how things are progressing, there is a chance Benedet could get his first NFL start in Las Vegas against the Raiders. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune suggested as much.
Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright missed his second consecutive day of practice Thursday after suffering an elbow injury in Sunday’s 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
If Wright isn’t ready to play this week against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Bears could turn to backup Theo Benedet to fill in. Wright, a 2023 first-round draft pick, has missed only one game in two-plus seasons.
Benedet is an ultra-rare breed for the Chicago Bears.
Undrafted offensive linemen don't typically do much in the NFL, which is built primarily with high draft choices. There are few exceptions. What makes Benedet's case even rarer is that he's from Canada. America's northern neighbor doesn't send many good players south. That is especially true for offensive linemen. The fact that Benedet has established himself as a quality backup who could start on Sunday is really cool stuff. Everything depends on the Friday injury report. If Wright practices, it may signal he intends to try playing. If he doesn't, that'll be a dead giveaway that he will sit. In such a case, Benedet gets the nod with rookie Ozzy Trapilo backing him up. People should appreciate what the young man has gone through to reach this point.
