Larry Mayer

After a shoulder injury limited him to four games with the Rams in 2024, Jonah Jackson enjoyed a successful first season in Chicago last year.

Reuniting with coach Ben Johnson, Jackson emerged as a key cog on a revamped offensive line. He started all 17 games on a resurgent offense that helped power the Bears to the NFC North title and a playoff win over the rival Packers.

"It was big, just getting confidence back and knowing what I'm able to do and how I can contribute to the team," Jackson said after Wednesday's OTA practice at Halas Hall. "I just want to build off it. I'm still in my prime years. I've got some juice left in the tank, so I just want to build off it."

Selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2020 draft, Jackson started all 57 games he played with Detroit from 2020-23, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He spent all four seasons working with Johnson, who served as Lions tight ends coach (2020-21), passing game coordinator (2021) and offensive coordinator (2022-24).

"I've been with him since he was a rookie," Johnson said. "He's a tremendous competitor. Brings a physical demeanor up front. Was really proud of him. He's always had to battle through some things, and he was able to stay healthy throughout the year.

"He's played a lot of ball. He's played in big games. He's played at a high level. As far as I'm concerned, he played at a Pro Bowl level last year as well. Certainly didn't get those accolades, but hopefully another year fully healthy, he'll get that recognition."

Jackson excelled playing next to right tackle Darnell Wright, a 2023 first-round pick who was named second-team All-Pro in 2025.

"When you pair him with a guy next to him like Darnell, you can certainly displace the line of scrimmage and dent that side of the line," Johnson said. "That came to fruition."

Jackson was familiar with Wright's game before they became teammates.

"He popped out on the tape when I was in Detroit," Jackson said. "Working next to him, seeing how he works and his ability, they call him the unicorn. He can do anything, and I think this year ahead with be even better."

A pro's pro

Jackson was thrilled that Bears left guard Joe Thuney was named the winner of the inaugural Protector of the Year Award as the NFL's best offensive lineman in 2025. Thuney was also chosen first-team All-Pro for the third straight season and voted to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl.

"It's awesome, especially a guy like that, a decorated veteran, a great guy on and off the field," Jackson said. "The blueprint to what you want as not just an interior O-lineman, but an offensive lineman in general."

Thuney boasts a nearly unmatched championship pedigree, capturing nine division titles in 10 NFL seasons with the Patriots, Chiefs and Bears and winning four Super Bowls, two with New England and two with Kansas City. Like Jackson, the Bears acquired Thuney in a trade last offseason.

"He's the same guy every single day; probably the most consistent person outside of Ben that I have seen in the league," Jackson said. "He handles his business. He's a grown-up. He's a pro's pro."

Creating chemistry

Jackson feels that the assimilation process for new center Garrett Bradbury has been a smooth one. The Bears acquired the experienced veteran in an offseason trade with the Patriots following Drew Dalman's unexpected retirement.

Bradbury is learning a new offense for the second straight year, having signed with New England last March after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Vikings. Starting all 17 games in 2025, he helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.

Bradbury is benefitting from reuniting with and lining up next to Thuney. The two were teammates at North Carolina State and roomed together when the Wolfpack were on the road.

"He's been in the league for eight years, so you know a lot of schemes he's been around are very similar to what we do," Jackson said. "He's a smart guy. Joe had a lot of familiarity with him, so knowing that and getting to know him a little more, I feel like it's been pretty easy gelling together."

Really encouraged

The Bears are pleased with how Braxton Jones has looked in offseason practices. The fifth-year pro is attempting to regain the starting left tackle position he had held from his rookie season in 2022 until last year when he was hampered by injuries.

Selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of Southern Utah, Jones opened all 17 games as a rookie. He remained the No. 1 left tackle the next two seasons, though injuries limited him to 11 contests in 2023 and 12 in 2024.

While still rebounding from a broken fibula that ended his 2024 campaign, Jones won a competition last summer with Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie for the starting job. Jones opened the first four games before being replaced by Trapilo in the second quarter of a road win over the Raiders. A few weeks later, Jones sustained a knee injury in practice that sidelined him for the rest of the season.

"We hope to see a healthier person," Johnson said. "Last year at this time, he was still getting back in the groove; certainly through training camp it was a gradual process. We all know that battle went on for a long time and took a while before we felt comfortable settling on Ozzy halfway through the season.

"Different circumstances this year. [Jones] has come back. His comfort level has risen, just in terms of knowing what to do and how we want to get it done. I think this is the best his body has felt in a while, so we're really encouraged with where's he's at right now."