The Chicago Bears had some time off after a win against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. It is allowing some players to get healthy and return to the lineup for a big game against the Detroit Lions.
Which players are expected to return, and what is the potential impact?
3. The Chicago Bears will add Nate Davis to their offensive line
Nate Davis has had a rocky year, to say the least. Davis missed most of the offseason workouts due to a personal matter and then was awful in week one. The team had him sit weeks two and three. He returned in week four but looked a bit rusty, before playing his best game in week five.
The Chicago Bears scored 40 points with Davis and Teven Jenkins in the lineup for the first time all year. Then, Davis got hurt ten plays into week six.
He has missed weeks seven through ten but practiced this week and every indication is that he will start on Sunday. This will be the first time the Bears have Darnell Wright, Nate Davis, Teven Jenkins, and Braxton Jones in a game.
Not only is this a solid group to build around in the future. They can really run the football with the names listed. They ran the ball well against Washington without Braxton Jones, and they have been running the football effectively all season.
Ryan Poles has taken a lot of heat for his lack of resources in the offensive line, but if these four can gel together, and Poles just needs one starter and a little depth this offseason it will actually be a job well done. This hinges on Nate Davis playing well in the next seven games and Teven Jenkins not being worse at left guard because he was great on the right side.