Healthy and Hungry: Amegadjie’s growth in year two with Bears

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 13 hours ago

CHICAGO - For the first time in his NFL career, offensive lineman Kiran Amegadjie is able to participate in training camp. Last season he missed training camp because he was still recovering from an injury he suffered in college, something that hurt his development as a rookie.

However, Amegadjie is taking advantage of the fact that he is able to participate in camp now.

“It’s been awesome. I wish, obviously, I had this opportunity last year. I just wasn’t in the position to do so. But, it’s been a great learning experience and I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. Just really competing with myself and everyday trying to be better than the last. So, it’s been a great learning experience, great to be with the guys, build camaraderie, be around all these new guys who are teaching us a lot. Just trying to grow as an offense and as a team,” Amegadjie said. “It’s just about being better every single day and trying to learn and absorb as much knowledge as I can, refine my technique as much as I can and be ready for any opportunity. That’s the way I look at it. It’s not necessarily just about, ‘Hey, I need to be doing this by this day.’ But, I need to be on a steady incline every single day, not making the same mistake twice and at the end of the camp, I think I’ll feel like I’m in a really good position with where I’m at.”

When training camp started, Amegadjie was in a battle for the starting left tackle position with veteran Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo.

Despite competing with each other, the three offensive linemen have developed camaraderie and help each other during practice and in the meeting rooms.

“Those guys are amazing. Braxton and Ozzy, great guys, super nice. We’re competing on the field, but we’re teammates at the end of the day. I think all three of us want to see the best thing for the team happen at the end of this. Obviously, we’re all competitors and we want to be out there on Sundays. But, it’s not stopping us from being teammates and being friends off the field and trying to learn and grow together. We talk in between sets, in between racks on the field in team periods,” Amegadjie said. “We’ll watch film and I sit next to Braxton in the meeting room. So, we’ll talk through things as we see it. So, it’s been amazing to work with these guys and the competition’s been awesome.”

Unfortunately for Amegadjie, based on Chicago’s first depth chart, it appears Amegadjie may no longer be in the running for the starting left tackle position. He is listed as the backup right tackle. Jones is listed as the starting left tackle, with Trapilo listed as Jones’ backup.

Nonetheless, Amegadjie feels he has improved dramatically in the offseason and is willing to help the Bears in whatever role the coaching staff seems fit.

“I think I’m moving pretty well right now. I think I’m using my length better than I did last year. My set looks cleaner to me,” Amegadjie said. “Just trying to make that more consistent, but I think overall, it looks cleaner, and I think in terms of scheme and playbook-wise, I’m in a much better position this year than I was last year.”

For a player who is still developing like Amegadjie, there is nothing for beneficial than a seasoned position coach to learn from. During the offseason, head coach Ben Johnson brought in Dan Roushar to be Chicago’s new offensive line coach.

Roushar has 40 years of coaching experience, including 10 seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

“I think (Roushar’s) done a great job in helping me think through things and think through technique and pre-practice, post-practice in the meeting room,” Amegadjie said. “We’re talking through all these things that I kind of have it in my mind and when I’m out on the field, I can try to apply that (and) feel and make my body react to what I’m thinking. So, he’s done an amazing job and super thankful for everything he’s done so far since he’s been here to help me get to where I’m at now.”