Chicago Bears get major Ozzy Trapilo injury update as left tackle battle takes another turn

It's a significant step forward for Trapilo, although being removed from PUP doesn't necessarily mean he's ready to immediately jump into full-team work or the starting lineup.

Still, the timing couldn't be much better.

Ozzy Trapilo could shake up Bears' left tackle competition

Chicago entered its fourth week of training camp without naming a starting left tackle. Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. split work during Saturday's 34-10 preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns, but ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported that neither appeared to create much separation in the competition.

Braxton Jones also remains part of the equation.

Now Trapilo can begin working his way back into it.

General manager Ryan Poles recently explained on the Hoge and Jahns Podcast that the Bears hoped Trapilo could return early enough to participate in padded practices, which would provide the physical work needed to prepare for regular-season action.

Getting off PUP represents the first major hurdle.

The Bears will obviously be careful with Trapilo after such a significant knee injury, and there's a considerable difference between being medically eligible to practice and being ready to protect Caleb Williams' blind side in Week 1.

But the important news is that Trapilo is back in the mix.

And with none of the current left tackles running away with the job, he may still have time to make this competition considerably more interesting before the regular season begins.