Tag: cody davis

Patriots standout special teamer officially retires from NFL

Special teams will look very different for the Patriots in 2024

Special teams for the New England Patriots is going to look completely different in 2024.

On Thursday, standout core special-teamer Cody Davis officially announced his retirement from the NFL. The veteran is moving on to the next chapter of his life after 11 seasons.

He spent the last four years with the Patriots as a full-time special teams player. During his run in New England, he took a total of 905 special teams snaps in the 3,013 he’s had throughout his career.

Prior to joining the Patriots, Davis spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars. He released a series of tweets bidding farewell to the football journey in his life.

Davis’ retirement news comes on the heels of legendary special-teamer Matthew Slater calling an end to his football career as well. Veteran Myles Bryant signed with the Houston Texans, and the Patriots released Chris Board in free agency.

The unit will basically be starting over under newly-hired special teams coach Jeremy Springer.

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with November wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • Erin Blanchfield’s main training partner continues down a similar path with major UFC aspirations on her mind.
  • A surging Brazilian returns from a two-year hiatus following a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series – and hopes one more win has the UFC CEO circling back.
  • A California-based flyweight aims to make his first LFA title defense a successful one and a UFC ticket-puncher.
  • One of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the Australia-New Zealand regional scene looks to add another name to his resume and generate a UFC call thereafter.
  • A New England-based fighter, who is an alum of both “The Ultimate Fighter” and Dana White’s Contender Series angles to show he’s finally UFC ready.

Patriots Week 5 injury report: 10 players listed as questionable vs Saints

10 Patriots players listed as questionable to play on Sunday

The injury report is long for the New England Patriots heading into what feels like a must-win game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Many of the same names throughout the week stuck around on the injury report with offensive tackle Trent Brown being the newest addition. The team listed the veteran blindside protector as questionable to suit up in Week 5 with a chest injury.

Not having Brown on the field could yield devastating results against a Saints team preparing to unleash a slew of pass-rushers on quarterback Mac Jones, including eight-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cam Jordan.

The Patriots listed a total of 10 players as questionable to play in the game, while ruling out cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon. Here’s the complete list of players on the injury report ahead of the team’s Week 5 meeting with the Saints.

Patriots Week 5 injury report: Who returned from IR/PUP?

It was a long injury list for the Patriots on Thursday, but there’s hope at least two players could be close to coming off the IR/PUP lists.

For a second straight day, the New England Patriots’ had a long list of limited participants on the practice field. However, there’s hope that many of those players will be ready to play on Sunday.

Perhaps the most noteworthy names on Thursday’s list are offensive lineman Riley Reiff and special teamer Cody Davis. Reiff has been on injured reserve dealing with a knee injury, while Davis has been working his way back from the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury as well.

Both are eligible to return this week if ready. There are at least five Patriots players that could potentially return this week.

J.C. Jackson was on the practice field for the first time, catching up with owner Robert Kraft. Given the long list of injuries, particularly at the cornerback position, Jackson will be expected to step in and contribute right away for the team.

Here’s every Patriots player listed on Thursday’s injury report:

5 Patriots players eligible to return from IR/PUP lists this week

Five players on IR/PUP lists are eligible to return for the Patriots this week

There isn’t much hope for the New England Patriots on the injury front these days.

They just lost two of their best defensive players, Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon, in the same football game. All of their starting cornerbacks are out with injuries, and right tackle is a revolving door of random bodies just trying to make it work.

The good news is the Patriots are past the four-game mark, which means multiple players on injured reserve and the physically unable to perform lists are eligible to return this week.

Any return would feel like a boost at this point with the Patriots sitting at 1-3 and looking up at a seemingly impossible hill to climb in the AFC East division.

Here are the five players eligible to return for the Patriots this week.

Patriots list 10 players as limited participants in first Week 5 injury report

10 players were limited for the Patriots at Wednesday’s practice

The New England Patriots had a longer injury report than normal at Wednesday’s practice, ahead of their Week 5 showdown with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

There were a total of 10 limited participants listed for the Patriots, while two other players did not participate at all. The latter was obviously rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez and veteran linebacker Matthew Judon.

Both players went down with potentially season-ending injuries in the Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys,

However, it wasn’t all bad news for the Patriots. Three players eligible to return from the PUP/IR list were on the field practicing for the first time this season. The Patriots have shifted to a next-man-up mentality after being devastated with injuries four weeks into the year.

Here’s the complete injury report for Wednesday:

3 injured Patriots returned for first regular season practice on Wednesday

Finally, there is some hopeful news on the injury front for the Patriots on Wednesday

Defensive end Trey Flowers, safety Cody Davis and offensive tackle Riley Reiff all made their return to practice for the New England Patriots on Wednesday.

Flowers was placed on the active\PUP list on August 8, and Reiff was placed on injured reserve September 4. Meanwhile, Davis started training camp on the PUP list after being placed there on July 21.

The addition of Reiff in particular could be notable, given that New England has struggled on the offensive line. Flowers will be able to add pass-rushing depth to the team, which could be important following the season-ending injury to Matthew Judon. Flowers has 31.5 sacks in his career, and he knows how to rush the passer well, especially in coach Bill Belichick’s defense.

These returns are big for depth purposes with the Patriots currently battered with injuries.

There’s no fixing the damage done from losing two defensive stars in cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Matthew Judon, but the Patriots would be in a good place if they can at least soften the blow.

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Madden 24 ratings for every Patriots safety

Three Patriots safeties received an 80-plus overall rating.

The New England Patriots will be entering the 2023 season with one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL, and the ratings on the upcoming “Madden NFL 24” video game reflect it.

There are three players at the safety position for the Patriots rated 80-plus overall in the game. It’s a good thing for a unit that lost legendary defensive back Devin McCourty in the offseason.

McCourty, who rode off into the sunset in retirement, will be watching from the sidelines as players like Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jalen Mills and Adrian Phillips step up as defensive leaders.

Madden players, on the other hand, will love running this unit against that one friend that constantly heaves up deep throws on every play. Here are the official Madden 24 ratings for every Patriots safety.

3 Patriots players placed on PUP list ahead of training camp

Here are the three Patriots players that landed on the PUP list

The New England Patriots are set to open training camp this week with at least three players on the physically unable to perform list.

Offensive guard Michael Onwenu, safety/special-teamer Cody Davis and defensive tackle Justus Tavai were all placed on the PUP list ahead of the first week of practice.

Onwenu potentially missing time is a tough blow considering he’s the best offensive lineman on the team. Pro Football Focus ranked him among the best guards in the league last season. He missed all of the spring practices after undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason.

The Patriots could have to lean on rookies Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi until Onwenu is back on his feet.

Meanwhile, Davis has been a key special teams contributor, and Tavai, who is the brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, is an undrafted rookie that was re-signed by the team in June after initially being released.

The next-man-up mentality is already in full effect for the Patriots before the helmets and shoulder pads come on.

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Patriots reportedly agree on deal to bring back special teams standout

The Patriots are bringing back a core special-teamer.

Another McCourty brother special came hard-hitting with Devin McCourty reporting the news that New England Patriots special teams standout Cody Davis had agreed to a one-year deal to return to the team.

This announcement came after Jason McCourty broke the news on the extension for Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona.

Davis suffered a knee injury in the Patriots’ Week 6 victory over the Cleveland Browns that kept him out for the rest of the season. Special teams is an area the Patriots are hoping to improve at in 2023, and Davis being back on the field would be a huge boost for the team.

Legendary special-teamer Matthew Slater will be returning for a 16th season, and Brenden Schooler will only get better in his second season. The Patriots also added former Detroit Lions key special-teamer Chris Board on a two-year deal.

The pieces are beginning to fall into place.

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