Bears RG Nate Davis misses another practice

The Chicago Bears starting offensive line appears to be taking shape. But it's not exactly what the team had planned this offseason.

Right guard Nate Davis, who signed a three-year contract last offseason, has struggled with his availability in his first year and this past offseason. He's battled injuries, and it's unfortunately continued into training camp. Davis has missed the past week of practices due to a groin injury. And while it appeared that Davis was ramping up on Tuesday, he was once again sidelined to kick off Wednesday's practice, according to several media members in attendance.

It was notable that during walkthroughs it was Ryan Bates, who is competing with Coleman Shelton for the starting center job, was at right guard instead of Davis, according to Nicholas Moreano. We've seen Davis in a limited capacity be in the lineup for warmups but exit during team periods.

We could very well be looking at Chicago's starting offensive line heading into Week 1: LT Braxton Jones, LG Teven Jenkins, C Coleman Shelton, RG Ryan Bates and RT Darnell Wright.

On Tuesday, coach Matt Eberflus seemed to send a message to Davis about how he needs to be on the field to keep his starting job. After yet another missed practice, it certainly seems like we're trending toward Davis being benched in favor of Bates.

"If a person is out for an extended period of time and a player that is in that position is playing really well, at a starter level, and doing a good job there, then you create the competition," Eberflus said Tuesday. "Then you say hey there's a competition. People say well you can't lose the job due to injury. I don't think that's true. I think that if the guy that is playing there, you know, gives our team a good look and a good benefit of being in that position, then it's a competition or the other guy could take it over."

As Eberflus has said, the best ability is availability.

As you can imagine, Bears fans are over it and ready for the team to move ahead with the current offensive line:

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears RG Nate Davis misses another practice