There’s no reason for Bears fans to panic over players skipping OTAs

We’re in the middle of the dead zone in the NFL schedule. The only things happening around the league at this point are the voluntary OTA practice sessions, and the Chicago Bears are notoriously buttoned-up when it comes to offseason practices. Very little information gets out, so anything that does get reported usually elicits some wild overreactions from fans.

For instance, it was reported on Wednesday that S Eddie Jackson, WR Darnell Mooney, OG Nate Davis, and CB Jaylon Johnson were absent again from OTAs. Despite being voluntary, Bears fans voiced their concerns with non-injury-related absences, especially with Davis.

Davis was Bears general manager Ryan Poles’ big free-agent acquisition for the offensive line this year. Coming off a season in which he logged a personal best 70.6 PFF grade, his presence is expected to stabilize what has recently been a calamitous interior offensive line. Bears fans are desperately hoping to see competent pass protection for Justin Fields in 2023, and a big part of that becoming a reality is for the offensive line to develop chemistry in the offseason. It’s understandable at first glance for fans to be worried that Davis isn’t around.

But there’s no cause for alarm. Davis ended last season on IR, missing the final three games of the Tennessee Titans’ regular season. Like Mooney and Jackson, it’s understandable for a veteran player who could not finish the season due to an injury to skip the voluntary OTAs in May.

Besides, OTAs are almost completely useless for an experienced offensive lineman like Davis. With no pads or live contact allowed at these sessions, there’s very little for the linemen to do except go through the motions and get some conditioning.

Could Davis use this time to develop the aforementioned chemistry? Sure. It’d be nice. But he isn’t a rookie — see Darnell Wright — who needs to adjust to the NFL game. He’s a pro’s pro. He’ll be fine.

Obviously, we would all like to see 100% attendance at these OTAs, but every year someone will decide to skip out, and it’s not always a bad sign. If these players are still no-shows when training cap rolls around, it’ll be time to worry.