This year is all about Justin Fields for the Bears. GM Ryan Poles made it clear that he and the rest of the organization would not be able to fix all of the team’s problems in a single season break, but the front office made a concerted effort to give their quarterback the tools he needed to development needed. To a certain extent they have succeeded. Fields has a true WR1 ahead in DJ Moore and, more importantly, a revamped offensive line.
Fields was fired 55 times last season, joining Russell Wilson as the NFL leader. So the team recruited Darnell Wright with his first-round pick to take up right tackle and signed Nate Davis to take the right guard spot. The Bears moved Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair to left defense and center to try to get their top five players on the line at once. The only man still in the same spot as of 2022 is Braxton Jones, who has steadily improved throughout the year.
There are legitimate questions as to whether or not everything will fit together with so many moving parts, but the hope is that the two additions and two positional changes will improve the play of the unit as a whole. There are also legitimate reasons to believe things will work out. Wright is considered one of the most NFL-ready rookie linemen this year. Davis has a track record of success as a right-back from his time in Tennessee. Whitehair also has a track record of success as a center player, with his name being included in the Pro Bowl at that position. Jenkins saw a position change last year and was arguably the most dominant player on the line when he was healthy. There’s no reason to think he can’t adjust to a change of sides, especially since he’s experienced playing at left flank in both the pros and college.
If everything goes exactly as planned, that doesn’t mean that things will be grumpy all year round. In fact, the OTA made it clear on Tuesday that the O Line is one of the thinnest positional groups on the team.
Davis didn’t participate in the optional OTA on Tuesday, leaving the Bears with Ja’Tyre Carter and Lucas Patrick splitting the starting lineup at right. This is Carter’s second NFL season and he only played 31 snaps on offense last season. That’s about as inexperienced as it gets for someone who was considered a project player when he was drafted. Patrick was playing guard in 2022 when his injured hand prevented him from hitting the ball and it was a disaster. According to the PFF, Patrick was the second-worst pass protection among players with at least 100 snaps.
Jones and Wright were both present at OTAs, but Davis’ absence was also a reminder of the unencouraging options behind both tackles. The Bears have Larry Borom, Alex Leatherwood and Kellen Diesch in their roster, but Borom and Leatherwood each struggled with limited playing time last year. Diesch didn’t play at all last year, his rookie season. The Bears haven’t re-signed Riley Reiff or Michael Schofield, who played reliable snaps at the points all year.
It’s a reminder that while the Bears’ starting unit appears to be significantly improved, they are one injury away from an untried or ineffective player stepping in. Offensive lines are usually as strong as their weakest players – and practically, injuries at orienteering are as well. It’s a given, so it’s a daunting proposition from today’s perspective. But fans shouldn’t panic just yet. It’s still May, giving a player like Carter or Borom plenty of time to prove they’re either ready to take the next step in their development, or that last year was a fluke. If not, the Poles still have plenty of time to join the group. The Poles signed both Schofield and Reiff in late July last year, in time to attend most training camps. The same could happen this year.
The Bears wrap up their first round of OTA this Friday, then return for more on May 30th.
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