The Chicago Bears signed veteran offensive lineman Joe Thuney to a new deal, extending him for another two years after trading for him this offseason from the Kansas City Chiefs. The 32-year old guard was acquired by Chicago as a part of their massive offseason overturning meant to help franchise quarterback Caleb Williams to actually succeed in 2025.
Last season, if you recall, Williams struggled to find a clean pocket thanks to the Bears' shoddy offensive line. As a result, he was sacked a total of 68 times his rookie season. That was good for third-most ever in NFL history, speaking to just how terrible that line was and also how horrendously the Bears' coaching staff had set Williams up in the offense.
2025 will be a different beast entirely for the NFC North and the Bears, though. With the trade for Thuney, the drafting of Ozzy Trapilo, and the addition of Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, Chicago is finally primed to see a really great year from Williams and their offense - that is, if Detroit Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson has a slow start to the year thanks to these signings.
If not, then Thuney is in for a rough first year on his two-year deal with Chicago.
Bears sign Thuney as insurance against Hutchinson
Hutchinson, who was looking like the potential sack leader in the NFL prior to breaking his leg early in the 2024 season, is going to probably be back for Detroit in Week 1. In Week 2, head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears will be heading to Ford Field to face off with the Lions in an NFC North bout, and that'll be the first real test for Chicago's new-look O-line.
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Detroit, outside of Hutchinson, will also have a motivated Marcus Davenport, a returning Alex Anzalone, and Jack Campbell adding to the teams' pass rush - and, hopefully, another signing by the name of Za'Darius Smith to really shore up their rushing alongside Hutchinson.
Thuney is a great guard, but there's only so much he can do to contain a team that might be going all in on trying to get to Williams like the Lions likely will be. That'll especially be the case of Chicago doesn't lock down another playmaker in their running back room to take some load off of Williams' arm to start the season.