The Chicago Bears are planning a major change to their struggling offensive line ahead of Week 3’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
As reported by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are expected to bench right guard Nate Davis, who signed a $30 million contract, and start veteran free agent Matt Pryor in his place. Davis is questionable due to a groin injury.
“Yesterday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus hinted that Matt Pryor could play on Sunday in Indianapolis,” Biggs shared on X on September 21, quoting Eberflus, who expressed excitement about Pryor getting a chance to face the Colts.
Biggs added that Pryor is likely to start at right guard.
The Bears may be resting Davis as a precaution, having limited his participation in practices after he aggravated his groin injury on September 18. Benching Davis doesn’t rule him out of a rotational role with Pryor, as seen in Week 1 when Davis shared time with Ryan Bates.
However, if Pryor performs well against the Colts, he might secure the starting right guard spot long-term. With the Bears’ offensive line struggling in Week 2, failing to protect rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and support the run game, Pryor could provide the needed spark to improve their performance. If successful, Davis might remain on the bench.
Bears Feeling Good About Matt Pryor’s Improvement
Matt Pryor presents an intriguing option for the Bears at right guard. Initially viewed as a veteran depth signing who might have been on the roster bubble before the season, Pryor impressed the team with his versatility, playing both guard and tackle, earning him a spot on the 53-man roster after a strong training camp.
Since then, Pryor has only improved his standing with the coaching staff. Head coach Matt Eberflus praised Pryor’s energy and work ethic leading into the Week 3 game against the Colts, hinting that Pryor might rotate in at right guard.
“We’ve seen real improvement in his work ethic, energy, and what he brings as a teammate,” Eberflus said. “I’m super excited for him, whether he’s working alongside Nate or otherwise. We’ll evaluate things as the game gets closer, but he’s had a great week.”
Pryor will bring significant experience to his start on Sunday, having played in 75 career games with 24 starts over five seasons before joining the Bears. He’s taken snaps at every position along the offensive line, except center, making him a valuable asset in the lineup.
Bears Face Limited Options With Nate Davis in 2024
The Bears have shown a clear intent to replace Nate Davis at right guard. The position might have gone to someone else earlier, particularly Ryan Bates, who played more snaps than Davis in Week 1 before landing on injured reserve. Now, with Matt Pryor stepping up, the Bears may finally have their solution if Pryor performs well.
The challenge for Chicago is that they’re in a tough spot with Davis heading into 2024. Even if Davis is benched for the rest of the season, the Bears are still financially committed to him. While they could technically cut him, it would only save them less than $1 million in cap space. More realistically, Davis will likely remain on the roster as an overpaid backup, given the potential need for veteran depth in case of injuries.
Davis hasn’t performed well to start the 2024 season, but the Bears don’t have the luxury of dismissing his experience entirely. Aside from Pryor and left guard Teven Jenkins, the only other healthy guard is Bill Murray, who has yet to play a regular-season snap. Even when Bates returns from IR, Davis will still be a necessary depth piece to maintain stability along the offensive line for the rest of the season.
However, unless Davis significantly improves, the Bears will likely move on from him after the 2025 offseason. Releasing him would save $9.5 million in cap space while carrying only a $2 million dead-cap charge, making it a financially sensible move for the team.
For now, though, the Bears will have to navigate around the “Davis problem” while trying to solidify their offensive line.
