Todd

Davis

Davis spent the first two weeks out of the league after getting cut from the Broncos last year. There was also a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list, limiting him to 11 games. When healthy, Davis held his own in six starts for the Vikings, posting 35 tackles and grading out positively against the run. With Blake Martinez and Reggie Ragland sidelined, Davis will be part of a rotation with Lorenzo Carter and second-year LB Tae Crowder.

Davis is out for at least Sunday’s game with the Packers. The Vikings will start rookie Troy Dye in base sets.

Davis started 59 games for Denver over the last four seasons but was entering the final year of his contract and suffered a calf injury during camp. His release saves the Broncos $4.5 million against the cap. Davis was Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 off-ball linebacker out of 57 qualifiers who played at least 50% of the snaps last season, seeing positive marks for his run defense. The 28-year-old should get another chance elsewhere. This was probably more about money. Denver has Mark Barron, Alexander Johnson, Joe Jones, and newly-acquired Austin Calitro as options at the position.

“It’s nowhere near the calf injury he had last year,” said Fangio. “I think we’ll see him out there sooner than later.” The Denver Channel’s Troy Renck thinks Davis could return to practice next week. The Broncos have been giving Josey Jewell first-team reps with Davis out.

It’s the same calf injury that cost him two games last year. Davis will likely miss the rest of training camp, but there’s a chance he’ll be ready for Week 1.

Davis notably missed all of camp and Denver’s first two regular season games with a tweaked calf last year. The severity is unclear, but it has to be a relief for the organization that Davis didn’t tear his Achilles’. We’ll have an update once the results of his MRI are known.

This was expected with Davis owed just $5 million in the final year of his deal. Davis has been a tackling machine the last two seasons (248 tackles) but there’s talk the Broncos are in the market for inside linebacker help. Davis seems likely to keep his job, but he’s not a lock to see the 85 percent of snaps he played in 2019.

Due a $5 million salary, Davis is also collecting a $500,000 option. NBC Denver’s Mike Klis still expects the Broncos to be on the hunt for help at inside linebacker. Going on 28, Davis had a solid if unspectacular 2019. He mostly just tallied tackles in the middle of the Broncos’ defense.

Slot CB Bryce Callahan (foot) is also shaping up as a game-time decision. Their respective absences would be good news for the Bears, although Mitch Trubisky and company’s more-pressing problem is figuring out how to deal with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb after Preston Williams and the Packers’ pass-rush took over the game back in Week 1.

Davis is progressing from a calf injury, and he’s now on track to play in the home opener. The Broncos’ defense was crushed by Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs on Monday Night Football.