LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — For players with lucrative contracts, there are great demands to perform and meet the terms with production. Falling short of those expectations often leads to pressure from within and criticism from the outside.
Bears right guard Nate Davis has been guaranteed $19.25 million of the three-year, $30-million deal that he signed in March 2023. He was identified by general manager Ryan Poles as a player who could bring stability for Chicago’s offensive line, but Davis' continued absences from practice due to injury have led to frustration and scrutiny.
The 27-year-old Davis has tried to block out all the outside noise. Because of that, Davis apparently missed the message that Bears head coach Matt Eberflus recently delivered through the media when he noted that a player can lose a job due to injury if his replacement is performing at a high level. Along the same lines, Davis hasn’t paid attention to opinions shared on social media, some of which have called into question his desire to play.
On Thursday, it took a direct question to Davis to garner a response on whether he’s willing to practice. He sees that criticism as completely unfair.
"No, not at all (fair),” Davis said. “I've been in this league for a long time. I don't think I really do what I do without practicing. Stuff happens, but you got to continue to perform."
Davis played in 11 games of the Bears' 17 games in 2023. Early last September, he dealt with a personal tragedy as his mother passed away. It was a challenging year for Davis, who later suffered a knee injury during a game in October. That injury cost him four games.
During the offseason program, Davis was notably absent as the Bears attempted to form their starting offense around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. That underscored the frustration surrounding Davis’ availability, which grew when he suffered a soft-tissue injury early in training camp.
As the Bears held a joint practice with the Bengals on a rain-soaked Thursday afternoon in Lake Forest, Davis was a full participant. It marked his most significant day of work thus far in training camp.
Davis suffered his injury on the second day in which the Bears donned full pads in July. He was nearing a return before suffering a setback early last week.
It led Eberflus to his sharp words that seemed to put Davis on notice.
“People say you can’t lose a job because of injury,” Eberflus said. “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.”
Two days later, the Bears lost Davis’ competition, veteran offensive lineman Ryan Bates, to an injury. Bates’ health is considered week-to-week, Eberflus recently said.
Bates was acquired by the Bears in a trade with the Bills back in March, giving Chicago an option who could compete for the starting center job and serve as a contingency plan at right guard. After the injury, Bates’ chances of opening the season as a starter are in jeopardy.
Given how his frontloaded contract is structured, Davis' roster spot was never in serious doubt. But before the injury to Bates, he was in a position to potentially be moved to the bench.
Davis is now back with the Bears’ starting offense at right guard and hopes to prove himself once again.
"Just to show the world what type of player I really am, especially when healthy,” Davis said. “When my mind is right and body is good, I know I'm a special player."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.