Marcus Davenport released by Bears after just one game played

The Chicago Bears have parted ways with veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport, releasing him from their practice squad on Monday at his request. The move comes one day after Davenport made his debut for Chicago in Week 4, and he will leave the 3-1 Bears having appeared in just a single game for the organization.

Short Bears stint after NFC North tour and injuries

Davenport joined the Bears in mid-August, signing on with his third consecutive NFC North team after previous stops with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. The deal reunited him with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who oversaw the early years of Davenport’s career during their time together with the New Orleans Saints.

A first-round pick in 2018, Davenport produced 21.5 sacks over five seasons in New Orleans, peaking with a nine-sack campaign in 2021. Since leaving the Saints, however, a series of injuries has limited his impact. According to the report, Sunday’s appearance marked just his 15th game played dating back to 2023, underscoring how health issues have stalled his progress at age 30.

In Chicago’s 23-12 win over the New York Jets, Davenport played 12 of 32 defensive snaps in a game where the Bears’ offense controlled the ball for more than 42 minutes. Per Pro Football Focus, he recorded one tackle and one quarterback pressure and received a strong overall grade of 70.8 for his performance.

Bears edge depth thins as Shemar Turner nears return

Davenport’s exit leaves the Bears lighter on the edge of their defensive front at a time when they are trying to build on a promising start to the season. The team will need greater contributions from the remaining edge rushers to maintain its pass rush and contain opposing run games.

Help could be on the way in the form of defensive lineman Shemar Turner. He is currently on the reserve/physically unable to perform list while rehabbing a torn ACL suffered a year ago. Turner resumed practicing on September 23 and, after sitting out the required four games, is now eligible to be activated to the 53-man roster.

Turner could make his season debut as early as this week when the Bears face their long-time rivals, the Green Bay Packers. His return would provide welcome reinforcement up front and help offset the depth hit created by Davenport’s departure.