A problem that began as “day-to-day” has, 12 days later, become “week-to-week.” And even though there’s a month left until the Bears begin the regular season, it’s never too soon to worry.
The reason: There’s nothing more important to the Bears than the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. And he can’t do that if he’s on his back.
Saturday will be the first time that opponents will chase the No. 1 overall pick with bad intentions. The Bears will have four of their regular starting offensive linemen, at the most, standing in the way of the Bills’ first-team pass rushers.
Right guard Nate Davis is the one assured to not be on the field. A lower-body muscle strain that first prompted coach Matt Eberflus to declare him day-to-day July 27 has become a longer-range issue. Davis ramped up his rehab and tried to return to full-time action Sunday, only to head back to conditioning in the middle of practice. On Thursday, after the Bears’ last practice before their starters are set to make their preseason debut, Eberflus called Davis’ injury week-to-week.
“He’s dealing with some soft-tissue stuff, so we had to bring him back down,” Eberflus said. “We’ll start that process over and see where it goes.”
The clock is ticking.
“Life’s going to knock you down a lot of times,” left guard Teven Jenkins said. “It’s going to be rough at certain points in your life. It’s just about keeping [Davis] encouraged and having him be the best man he can be. Come back whenever he can.”
Davis isn’t the only one hurting.
Limping right tackle Darnell Wright has shared snaps with backup Larry Borom the last two days. Ryan Bates, who was rotating with Coleman Shelton at center before moving to right guard to cover for Davis, was limited in practice Thursday.
It’s conceivable that Wright and Bates will be able to play Saturday. Defensive starters who didn’t practice Thursday and aren’t expected to play include cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson, safety Jaquan Brisker, nose tackle Andrew Billings and defensive end Montez Sweat.
None of them, though, is tasked with protecting the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.
Since the Bears signed Davis to a three-year, $30 million deal in March 2023, he has been an enigma on a stationary bike.
He sat out parts of voluntary minicamps in 2023 and 2024 and was out before the Bears even put on pads in training camp last year. He dealt with injuries and a personal issue in training camp last season — general manager Ryan Poles said then he was out for “a combination of things” — and suffered a death in his family early last season.
He started only 11 games last year in part because he suffered a high ankle sprain.
Davis was only a brief participant in mandatory minicamp this year, prompting Eberflus to be pressed in June about whether he was still the presumed starter. After praising the line’s depth, Eberflus — who admired Davis when they were AFC South rivals — said Davis was.
Asked the same question this week, Eberflus was less direct.
“If a person’s out for an extended period of time and the player that’s in that position is playing very well, at a starter level, and doing a good job there, then you create the competition,” he said. “People say you can’t lose a job because of injury. I don’t think that’s true. I think if the guy that’s playing there gives our team a good look and a good benefit for him being in that position, then it’s a competition.”
The competition is on. The stakes are high, and not just because Davis has an $11.4 million salary-cap hit this year. Williams is about to drop back to pass in a game for the first time, and the Bears need to find the best five blockers to protect him.
Jackson at practice
Rev. Jesse Jackson visited with coach Matt Eberflus, general manager Ryan Poles, president/CEO Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey after attending practice.
Eberflus said he thanked Jackson for “all he’s done for civil rights but also for humanity over the course of his lifetime.”
Jackson attended practice last year, too.
This and that
- Long snapper Patrick Scales missed all three practices this week because of a muscle issue in his back. The Bears re-signed long snapper Cameron Lyons on Sunday.
- Wide receiver Collin Johnson, who caught two touchdown passes in the preseason opener, remains out with an injury.
Williams will play for the first time after he and dozens of players were held out of the preseason opener last week.
The coaches “want me to come out and be a leader to the team,” Fields said. “The biggest thing is being a leader for the offense and just carrying the guys.”