NEWSLETTER
Editor’s Note: The Bears have also just signed CB Buster Skrine.
Well, it’s not Le’Veon Bell, but the Chicago Bears will have at least one new running taking carries and catching passes out of the backfield in 2019.
Check it out:
Former #Seahawks RB Mike Davis is signing with the #Bears, source said. The former practice squad earns his first big payday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports the Bears will sign Mike Davis. Sorry if that’s not the back you were hoping for, but Davis could turn out to be a (relatively) important piece to the running back puzzle in 2019.
The 49ers may have drafted Davis in the fourth round back in 2015, but he seemed to find a niche during his two seasons with the Seahawks — especially in 2018, when he was given 112 carries and gained 514 yards. That’s a respectable 4.6 yards per carry in a reserve role. Which, yeah, man. That’s solid. He also added 34 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown.
And while catch percentage isn’t a perfect stat, hauling in more than 81 percent of your targets the last two seasons can’t be a bad thing. In total, Davis picked up 728 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 140 touches in 2018. These are fine numbers for a rotational guy – which is an important distinction, no doubt. Indeed, based on Matt Nagy’s usage of Taquan Mizzell and Benny Cunningham, upgrading at this area with Davis makes sense.
As it stands, a running backs room with Davis behind Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen features a hint of things Nagy likes out of his rushers. But to be clear, I can’t see signing Davis keeping the Bears from signing a bigger fish in free agency.
What I can see, however, is Davis bringing pass-catching production and a change of pace to go along with a bit more upside than what Cunningham or Mizzell brought to the table.
NOTE: The Bears have also just signed cornerback Buster Skrine. We’ll have more on that for you momentarily. Stay tuned. Busy day today.
