Todd Davis was carted off the field at Denver Broncos training camp.
Injuries are the worst reality of NFL training camps, and especially when teams send out the dreaded ‘cart’ to bring players into the locker room for further examination.
Denver Broncos starting inside linebacker Todd Davis was reportedly taken off the field with the help of two trainers, not putting any pressure on his left leg, before he was ultimately taken inside the team facility on a cart.
Todd Davis being helped onto a cart and being taken back inside the facility.
— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) August 20, 2020
Broncos linebacker Todd Davis being helped off field by trainers ... looks like he injured his left leg in team period. Taking him to locker room.
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) August 20, 2020
Davis was replaced in the lineup by third-year player Josey Jewell, a player who was once projected to be Davis’ running mate in the starting lineup.
Now, at least for the short-term, it will be Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson on the field for the Broncos, a combination the team didn’t see much of last season.
The Broncos are also liking what they’ve seen early in camp from rookie Justin Strnad, a fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest who is known for his three-down abilities and, specifically, coverage skills.
There’s not likely to be an immediate update on Davis as the injury just occurred during practice, but considering those watching practice felt as though his body language was not indicative of anything minor, he wasn’t putting pressure on his leg, and the cart had to come out, it’s not looking good.
Hopefully, it’s something Davis can come back from, but this is a tough break for a player who missed most of training camp last year with a calf injury.
Over the last four seasons, Davis has averaged 114 tackles every 16 games. He posted a career-high 134 tackles last year in his first year in Vic Fangio’s defense along with matching his career-high of six tackles for loss.
Entering year two in the Vic Fangio defense together with Alexander Johnson, Davis is the play-caller on defense with Johnson taking those duties in nickel and dime.
Johnson is going to have to transition now to being the full-time LB1 in Denver if Davis’ injury is as serious as everyone is making it seem. That’s certainly a role he will be ready for and he spoke to that after Wednesday’s practice.
"“I prove it in practice every day. I prove it when I play. Obviously right now I’m in [packages] when I make the call for defense. The defense is the defense. I know the defense. I’m ready to play some ball.”– Alexander Johnson (quotes via Broncos PR)"
The clock is ticking toward the regular season for the Denver Broncos and every other team in the league. Injuries are part of camp and at Thursday’s practice, they kind of seemed to pile up a bit. None seems as substantial, though, as Todd Davis’.