It was evident last week that the Chicago Bears were losing patience with right guard Nate Davis. He still wasn’t practicing due to a groin injury that had nagged him for weeks. At last, he returned just in time to prepare for the team’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. It seemed like the questions about the right guard position were finally put to rest, especially with veteran Ryan Bates nursing an injury that could leave him out for a while. Instead, the game only raised further questions about Davis’ value to the team.
There were multiple instances where his missed assignments led to the offense stalling. On the third drive of the game, Davis appeared to miss a blocking assignment that allowed a Bengals defender to stop Khalil Herbert for a loss on 3rd and 1. Yet the most egregious moment came in the 2nd quarter. Chicago was deep in Bengals territory after a 43-yard pass interference penalty. Then, on 1st and 15, Davis got beaten by rookie Kris Jenkins to collapse the pocket for a sack on Caleb Williams. It was a one-on-one block, too.
They can’t trust him off the field based on how much time he keeps missing. The guy has never really been healthy since he signed with Chicago last season. Yet even his performance on the field doesn’t justify it anymore. He makes too many mistakes, particularly in pass protection. If you can’t handle a rookie defensive tackle, how can the team trust you against guys like Kenny Clark, Alim McNeill, and Jeffery Simmons? It has become clear the Bears have an Achilles heel at right guard.
The unfortunate part is that they are stuck with Nate Davis. Their only alternative is veteran Ryan Bates, who is injured at the moment. There is almost no way they will find a suitable replacement on the free agent market this close to the regular season. Maybe GM Ryan Poles can find somebody via trade, but that seems unlikely. So until Bates is healthy, which is unclear, Davis is the guy. At least until he gets hurt again, too. One can only hope he somehow figures it out.
