Sports

Bears head coach Ben Johnson announced on Saturday that the team will be going with a new starter at left tackle against the Commanders on Monday night.

Theo Benedet wil make his first start at the position. Benedet is replacing Braxton Jones, which was also the case during the team's Week 4 win over the Raiders. Benedet started that game at right tackle in place of the injured Darnell Wright, but moved to the left side in the middle of the game.

Johnson did not say whether the move was permanent at the time, but it is now official. Ozzy Trapilo will start at right tackle this week.

Benedet went undrafted in 2024 and spent the regulae season on the practice squad. He was in the mix for the starting job this summer and will now get his chance to show he's the long-term guy for the job.

The Bears will have a pair of defensive players back in the lineup for Monday night's game against the Commanders.

Linebacker T.J. Edwards and defensive back Kyler Gordon do not have injury designations for the Week 6 contest. Edwards and Gordon have both been dealing with hamstring injuries. Edwards appeared in one of the Bears' first four games and Gordon has not played at all this season.

Tight end Colston Loveland (hip), kicker Cairo Santos (right thigh), defensive end Austin Booker (knee), and running back Travis Homer (calf) are all listed as questionable. Santos has practiced fully all week, so the Bears may not need to make a move for the game. If they do, it will likely be to elevate former 49ers kicker Jake Moody from the practice squad.

Booker and Homer are both on injured reserve, so the team would need to make roster moves to have them available against Washington.

The 49ers will have safety Malik Mustapha available for the first time this season on Sunday.

Mustapha was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Saturday. Mustapha was on the PUP list while recovering from a knee injury.

The 2024 fourth-round pick had 72 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and five passes defensed during his rookie season.

The 49ers waived defensive lineman Robert Beal to create a spot on the 53-man roster for Mustapha. They also announced that they have elevated defensive lineman Trevis Gipson from the practice squad for their game against the Buccaneers.