Nate Davis is becoming a very frustrating player for the Bears

There’s an old saying in scouting circles that goes something like this: A player’s best ability is availability. So when it comes to Chicago Bears guard Nate Davis, he hasn’t exactly put his best foot forward since signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the team in 2023.

It’s important to acknowledge the personal trials and tribulations Davis suffered last season after a family death. He missed two of the Bears’ first three games, kicking off his Bears career in a bad spot.

“This is a great team,” Davis said at the time. “These guys have really just been there for me, during a tough time especially.”

Davis would end up missing six games during the 2023 season, four with foot and ankle injuries. And as the 2024 season approaches, he’s been out of practice since July 27 with what coach Matt Eberflus described as a “strain.” He returned to the field Sunday, but his time on the grass didn’t last long.

Not sure if this is by design, but Nate Davis left the field during OL/DL drills, went to talk to a trainer, took his pads off and put his jersey back on and is hanging around the training room. Unclear weather he’s limited today or if something was aggravated in the portion of…

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) August 4, 2024

Here we go again.

(Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

Nate Davis must prove that the Bears can depend on him

It’s time for Nate Davis to live up to his contract and prove to the Chicago Bears that they can depend on him.

Predicting injuries is impossible, and they’re never the player’s fault. But sometimes, a player’s rehab and recovery are dependent on how hard they work to return to the field. I’m not questioning Davis’ desire, but it’s important for the Bears to find out sooner rather than later whether Davis has the physical makeup to be an every-week starter.

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Chicago’s been forced to roll out the likes of Bill Murray (not that Bill Murray) while Davis gets right. It’s bad news if Davis isn’t in the lineup, and GM Ryan Poles must find out REALLY SOON whether he has to make a move to upgrade the interior offensive line before the 2024 season kicks off. And that depends on Nate Davis getting on the field.

Looking back at Davis’ time in Tennessee, he only managed one season in which he started every game (2020). He appeared in 13 games as a rookie, 14 games in 2021, and only 12 in 2022. Last season’s total (11) was the lowest number of his career.

Maybe he’s a player whose body is beginning to fail him at 27 years old. Maybe he needs to reinvent his strength and conditioning program. Or, maybe he is who he is: a guy who will never live up to his ability because he simply isn’t available enough.