Chicago Bears name team captains and Braxton Jones starts at left tackle

Head coach Ben Johnson announced the Chicago Bears team captains for the 2026 NFL season ahead of Sunday's opener against the Carolina Panthers. Caleb Williams, Joe Thuney, Grady Jarrett, TJ Edwards, and Cairo Santos will serve as captains for the upcoming campaign. Alongside the leadership group, the team confirmed Braxton Jones as the starting left tackle for Week 1. While organizational leadership appears settled, the roster faces injury concerns as Rome Odunze remains sidelined with an undisclosed issue described as day-to-day. Odunze missed practice for the second consecutive day following a shortened training session on Monday. The coaching staff emphasized that active roles for the season remain subject to weekly performance evaluations for all players on the roster.

• 6:16 PMYahoo Sports — 4 notes from Halas Hall: Chicago Bears name 2026 captains, starting left tackle, Rome Odunze misses another practice, and more