Chicago Bears left tackle Braxton Jones suffered a gruesome leg injury in Week 16's loss to the Detroit Lions, but the latest update from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport offered some optimism about his recovery.
Jones suffered a fractured ankle, and while he's undergoing more tests, Rapoport said his sources have told him Jones only fractured his fibula. The tibia wasn't damaged.
#Bears OT Braxton Jones, who was carted off yesterday, is believed to have suffered a fractured ankle, source says. He’s still undergoing tests, but as of now, it’s just the fibula, not the tibia, as well.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2024
Jones faces a four-month recovery, back long before training camp. pic.twitter.com/rqEfSpk3M7
Jones is expected to be back in roughly four months, which is pretty remarkable considering how horrific the injury looked. Assuming Rapoport's timeline is accurate, Jones will be fully healthy in time for the Chicago Bears' offseason activities.
While this is great news for Braxton Jones and the Bears in general, I still expect Chicago to invest heavily in the offensive line in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, with left tackle ranking among the top needs.