After firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday, the Chicago Bears continued to clear out the waste on the offensive side of their roster as the team released veteran offensive lineman Nate Davis on Wednesday.
The #Bears waived veteran OL Nate Davis. Any team claiming him would have to pick up $3.9 million in fully guaranteed salary.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 13, 2024
Davis signed a three-year deal with the Bears prior to the 2023 season but his time in Chicago has been filled with nothing but controversy. During his first preseason with the Bears, Davis was rarely seen at Training Camp due to personal reasons. During the season, it was revealed that Davis' mother had passed away and was dealing with an illness.
This past offseason, it seemed that injury slowed Davis' ramp up for the 2024 season. While the Bears never officially revealed what Davis was dealing with during the preseason, he was rarely on the practice field during Training Camp. Despite his limited availabiltiy, Davis opened the season as the Bears' right guard but was moved out of the starting unit by Week 2.
MUST READ: More on a plan to start Tyson Bagent before Waldron's firing.
Given the injuries that the Bears had on the offensive line last week, there was a belief that Davis could play in the team's game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Instead, Davis reported a back injury when he arrived to Soldier Field on Sunday and was consequently sent home by the coaching staff.
The Bears seemingly have a vetting issue when it comes to additions to their roster and coaching staff. The failures of Davis and Waldron are the biggest examples of that. Basic vetting of those who watched Davis with the Tennessee Titans suggested that there would be concerns over his availability once he got paid. Meanwhile, everyone from the Seattle Seahawks were trying to warn the Bears about the shortcomings Waldron has an offensive coordinator.
This has not been a good week for Ryan Poles. Two key components that he signed off on for impact additions to the offense have failed miserably. It's another piece of evidence that Poles does not deserve the benefit of the doubt he is given by the fanbase.