Already Thin at O-line, Bears Rule Out Nate Davis
The Bears’ offensive line depth got even worse Sunday, long before the team played a snap against the Patriots at Soldier Field.
An hour-and-a-half before inactives were due to the league, the Bears announced that guard Nate Davis had a back injury and would not play. Davis, who has played only 42 snaps all season, had not been listed on the injury report all week.
He was unlikely to start, but the Bears needed all the help they could get on the line. The Bears had already ruled out starting tackles Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, who have knee injuries; their backup Kiran Amegadjie, who has a calf problem.
Guard Ryan Bates was activated from injured reserve Saturday after hurting his shoulder. Bears coach Matt Eberflus was coy all week about how he’d line up his offensive line. His two main options were playing Larry Borom at left tackle again and putting Jake Curhan, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday, at right tackle — or moving guard Matt Pryor to tackle and replacing him with Bates.
The Bears also ruled out edge rusher Darrell Taylor, who has been fighting a knee injury all week. Montez Sweat, who missed last week’s game, will play.
Linebacker Noah Sewell is out with a knee injury. Cornerback Ameer Speed is a healthy scratch. Safety Jaquan Brisker, who suffered a concussion 35 days ago — the last time the team was at Soldier Field — and still hasn’t been cleared to return.
Three Keys for the Bears to Win Sunday’s Home Game
1. Protect quarterback Justin Fields: The Bears’ backup quarterback, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, will be under pressure to perform without his top wide receivers, who are all out with injuries.
2. Contain Patriots quarterback Drake Maye: The rookie quarterback has shown flashes of brilliance, but the Bears’ defense must be able to contain him and limit his ability to make plays with his legs.
3. Establish the run: The Bears need to be able to establish a consistent ground game to take pressure off Fields and keep the Patriots’ defense honest.
Offensive Line Shuffling
The Bears activated guard Ryan Bates from injured reserve and promoted tackle Jake Curhan from the practice squad on Saturday.
Preview by Mark Potash
Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense have another chance to find their groove against a Patriots defense that ranks 21st in points and 25th in yards. The Bears’ defense faces Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, a mobile threat who rushed for 95 yards against the Titans last week.
Conclusion
The Bears are facing a tough test against the Patriots, but they have shown resilience and determination in the past. With a new-look offensive line and a determination to win, the Bears may be able to pull off an upset.
FAQs
Q: Who is out for the Bears due to injury?
A: Nate Davis (back), Braxton Jones (knee), Darnell Wright (knee), Kiran Amegadjie (calf), Darrell Taylor (knee), and Noah Sewell (knee) are all out due to injury.
Q: Who is active for the Bears?
A: Justin Fields, Ryan Bates, Jake Curhan, Larry Borom, Matt Pryor, and Montez Sweat are all active for the Bears.
Q: Who is starting at quarterback for the Patriots?
A: Drake Maye is starting at quarterback for the Patriots.
