Fansided

5 best training camp battles for Bears in 2019

By Kevin Parvizi

LAKE FOREST, IL - MAY 05: Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) warms up during the Chicago Bears Rookie Mini-Camp on May 5, 2019 at Halas Hall, in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, IL - MAY 05: Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery (32) warms up during the Chicago Bears Rookie Mini-Camp on May 5, 2019 at Halas Hall, in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Mike Davis #27 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Mike Davis #27 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Running Back: David Montgomery vs. Mike Davis

The Chicago Bears replaced Jordan Howard with former Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers backup running back Mike Davis, signing the former South Carolina standout to a two-year deal worth just $6 million. It’s very much fringe No. 2 back money for a player who has a two-down back skill-set without the feature back upside.

That may seem like a critical review of Davis’s qualities, but he was honestly a smart, cheap signing by Ryan Pace. Davis projects as a similar runner to Howard at a fraction of the cost after 2019, and his 34 receptions on 42 targets last season showed that he offers more passing game ability than Howard. Of course, the Bears have Tarik Cohen, so they really just acquired Davis to be a yardage-chewer.

Davis is the competition to hedge the Bears bets on rookie running back David Montgomery. There will be legitimate competition between the two of them throughout the season, so don’t be surprised if the Bears take the classic “hot hand” approach at running back. But if Montgomery impresses in training camp, he’ll get every opportunity to be Matt Nagy’s feature back.

As a third-round pick out of Iowa State, Montgomery projects as a future every-down running back in the Bears offense. While he lacks speed, he forced more missed tackles than any other college back in 2018 and has even more passing game upside than Davis. Fantasy owners will stay glued to this battle, while Bears fans will be happy knowing that they should have two capable primary ball-carriers to pair with the electric Cohen.

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