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F
rom the start of the Bears’ 2022 rebuilding season to the dreadful 3-14 finish, offensive tackle Braxton Jones was a sign of long-term hope.
A fifth-round draft pick from Southern Utah, Jones was immediate evidence that first-year general manager Ryan Poles and his scouting staff could find a starting-quality player at a critical position in the middle rounds of the draft.
The Bears promoted Jones to the first-team offense at left tackle during the third week of OTA practices — a sign that Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff identified Jones’ preparedness early and wouldn’t hesitate to give a rookie a chance, rather than making him beat out a veteran.