One Chicago Bears beat writer has outlined an offensive unit as the team’s biggest concern heading into camp.
The Chicago Bears have spent the offseason reshaping a roster that showed promise last season, and with the arrival of top pick Caleb Williams, many are hoping Matt Eberflus’ squad takes a serious step forward in 2024.
That being said, the swapping out of key contributors for new arrivals also prompts some questions that need to be resolved in training camp.
One position group, in particular, sticks out as a possible liability if the Bears’ tinkering doesn’t go as planned.
The Athletic’s Adam Jahns recently outlined Chicago’s offensive line as its biggest concern ahead of training camp, noting this group needs more time together after failing to field its best five players during spring workouts.
Right guard Nate Davis’ availability is one possible liability on this unit. He was given a three-year, $30 million deal during the 2023 offseason to hold down a starting spot, but managed to appear in just 11 games due to ankle and foot issues last year. The latter also limited him during the Bears’ minicamp in early June.
Meanwhile, the starting center spot has no clear successor to longtime presence Cody Whitehair, who was cut this spring. Ryan Bates appears to be the frontrunner after Chicago acquired him via trade in March, but he’s also attempting to change positions after mostly playing at guard over his first five NFL seasons.
That’s not even to mention oft-injured 2021 second-round pick Teven Jenkins, who’s only made 11 starts in each of the last two campaigns.
Hopefully training camp will bring some much-needed clarity to Chicago’s O-line, whether that be guys seizing opportunities in front of them, or the Bears realizing they need to make new additions ahead of Week 1.
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