The NFL is a fast-moving league, and one day, you could be a star, but the next, you could be fighting for a job. The ups and downs and unknowns are what consistently keep us coming back.
Who are players on the Chicago Bears roster who are coming off a low and have a lot to prove in 2024?
3. Nate Davis has plenty to prove for the Chicago Bears
I do not need to tell you about the first season of Nate Davis with the Bears. It did not go well. He missed almost the entire off-season program, mainly due to a personal issue. When he played in week one, he looked rusty, which is not a shock.
Then, he missed regular season time due to that personal issue. When he came back, he was not quite in playing shape and got hurt. Davis coming back, then shaking off the rust just in time to get hurt ended up becoming a theme of the 2023 season for the free agent signing.
Now, it is a big year for Davis. The Bears can start to maneuver his contract around after this season and if he does not start playing well, this will be his last year on the team. More than that, the depth is better behind him so if he struggles they will be quicker to pull the plug.
Davis could step up and show that he can redeem himself. He could also prove to be a bad free-agent signing. Either way, he has plenty to prove.
2. Khalil Herbert has to win his job with the Chicago Bears
Last year, around this time, things were shaping up for Khalil Herbert. Herbert took the lead in carries during the first few weeks of the season, and the team was behind him as their starter and lead back.
An injury against the Washington Commanders set back his progression, though. When he returned from injury he struggled and could not find his footing. Herbert finished with a couple of solid performances, but this was clearly not enough in the coach's eyes.
The Bears signed D’Andre Swift, who is a direct threat to Herbert. Both are speed backs and big play hitters who lack power between the tackles. The big difference is that Swift is more valuable in the passing game. His duel-threat ability is going to make it hard to justify getting Herbert on the field.
When you add in that Roschon Johnson is entering his second year and the team obviously wants to see what he could bring, the chances are getting slim for Herbert.
Herbert is due a contract after this season and somehow just went from the most important back on the Bears roster to the third player that they are worried about in the long term.
Needless to say, Herbert has plenty to prove to show that he still can lead a rushing attack, whether in Chicago or for his next team.
1. Jaquan Brisker is looking for redemption with the Chicago Bears
The 2023 season was not quite what Jaquan Brisker expected. Brisker was excellent as a rookie. He racked up tackles, sacks, hits, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, and more. Brisker had a rookie season that made some think that an All-Pro was in his future. That was nowhere near the case in year two.
Brisker struggled in year two, mostly with injuries. He did not miss many complete games, but when he did play he was not nearly as good. Brisker also left the field often to get looked at or worked on. It stalled out any progress he was starting to make as a rookie.
So, year one was better than expected and year two was clearly worse. This is going to put pressure on Brisker for year three. What type of player is he, and can he bounce back? The Bears will need him to, and if he plays well he could be a cornerstone piece of the roster. If he struggles again, the Bears have to wonder if that rookie season was an anomaly.