Tag: Todd Davis

Minnesota Vikings Week 17 injury designations: 4 defensive starters ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions (5-10) Week 17 opponent, the Minnesota Vikings (6-9), have released their injury designations ahead of Sunday’s game. 

The Detroit Lions (5-10) Week 17 opponent, the Minnesota Vikings (6-9), have released their injury designations ahead of Sunday’s game and they will be without several starters.

Here’s a look at the Vikings’ full injury designations list.

Injury designations

Player Position Injury Designation
Dalvin Cook RB (starter) Not-injury related OUT
Alexander Mattison RB Concussion Cleared to play
C.J. Ham FB Quad Cleared to play
Riley Reiff LT (starter) COVID-19 Reserve/COVID-19
Ifeadi Odenigbo DE (starter) Chest OUT
Jalyn Holmes DE (starter) Groin OUT
Armon Watts DT Ankle Cleared to play
Eric Kendricks LB (starter) Calf OUT
Troy Dye LB Concussion/Hamstring Cleared to play
Todd Davis LB Ribs Cleared to play
Cameron Dantzler CB (starter) Hamstring OUT
Chris Jones CB Groin OUT
Dan Bailey K (starter) Back Questionable

Cook’s father passed away on Tuesday and he has returned home to be with his family. He will not play in this weekend’s game. Cook’s absence means Mattison — who was just cleared from the league’s concussion protocol — will get the start at running back.

Rieff was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, but the timeline for when he was identified is unclear. If he is not able to clear league protocols, the Vikings will turn to Rashod Hill at left tackle.

Odenigbo and Holmes were not the Vikings EDGE starters at the beginning of the year, but after Danielle Hunter went on I.R. and Yannick Ngakoue was traded, they were elevated into starting roles. With both ruled out, the Vikings will be on their third set of EDGE rushers for this matchup.

Kendricks is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and his absence will leave another massive hole in the Vikings front-7.

Last week, the Vikings starting three cornerbacks were: rookies Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler, along with Chris Jones — yes, former Lion Chris Jones. With Dantzler and Jones ruled out, the Vikings will start Gladney and likely Harrison Hand — yet another rookie corner.

Minnesota Vikings Week 16 Wednesday injury report: Seven DNP, five limited

See the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 16 injury report as of Wesneday. The team takes on the New Orleans Saints on Friday.

Minnesota’s linebacker position has taken a big hit this year.

The Vikings had Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr as the top two options at the beginning of the year. Barr is out for the whole year, while Kendricks has missed three consecutive games.

Eric Wilson, Todd Davis and Troy Dye have mostly been filling in. Wilson has played very well, but the position has definitely fallen off a bit without Kendricks and Barr.

Three important linebackers — Kendricks, Dye and Davis — have yet to practice this week. To make matters more difficult, the game is on Friday for the Vikings in Week 16.

Here is the updated injury report for the team as of Wednesday:

Vikings LB Eric Kendricks ruled out with pregame injury

The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of its better defensive players for Week 13: linebacker Eric Kendricks.

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Minnesota had its share of key absences for its Week 13 game this week.

Defensive end D.J. Wonnum and tight end Irv Smith Jr. were both ruled out for the Jaguars game on the Friday injury report.

A little shorter of notice, the Vikings got some more bad news. Linebacker Eric Kendricks suffered a calf injury pregame and was ruled out.

Kendricks, an All-Pro linebacker, is a huge loss for the Vikings defense. He is great at forcing incompletions in the passing game. He is also a very good run-stopping linebacker.

Kendricks being out means Jacksonville can have an easier time throwing over the middle and running in between the tackles.

In Kendrick’s place is linebacker Todd Davis, who signed with the team early in the 2020 season.

Minnesota also still has linebacker Eric Wilson, who is having a career year. Wilson has four pass deflections, three sacks, seven quarterback hits and three interceptions.

Report: Vikings LB Todd Davis tests positive for COVID-19

Another big blow to the Vikings’ linebacker unit: LB Todd Davis has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19

The Vikings linebacker unit took yet another hit before the team plays the Packers in Week 8.

According to a report by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Todd Davis tested positive for COVID-19.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported that a Vikings linebacker had tested positive, but did not specify which one.

Also, Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune reported that Davis was not at practice today.

As a free agent, Davis visited with the Vikings then signed with them during the 2020 NFL season. Davis used to be a staple of the Broncos defense. He started at least 14 games for the Broncos in the past four seasons. He tallied 134 tackles in 2019. The season before that, he had 114.

This year, he has been a useful player for the Vikings. Davis has played in four games for Minnesota, starting two.

Tomasson  reported that Vikings rookie Troy Dye will start on Sunday vs. Green Bay.

Ex-Broncos LB Todd Davis agrees to terms with Vikings

Former Broncos linebacker Todd Davis has signed with the Vikings.

Former Denver Broncos inside linebacker Todd Davis is signing a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, according to multiple reports.

Davis (6-1, 230 pounds) is a 28-year-old linebacker who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State with the New Orleans Saints in 2014. After bouncing back and forth between the Saints’ practice squad and active roster, Davis landed with the Broncos midway through his rookie season.

Davis went on to win a rotational role on defense and helped Denver win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. He won a starting job the following year and served as one of the team’s leading tacklers from 2016-2019.

Davis was a good run defender but struggled in pass coverage with the Broncos. He allowed 77.2% percent of passes thrown against him to be completed last season, according to ProFootballReference.com. Denver saved $4.5 million by cutting Davis before the season started. Josey Jewell has replaced him in the Broncos’ starting lineup.

In Minnesota, Davis will join a linebacker rotation that includes Eric Kendricks, Ryan Connelly and Eric Wilson.

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Report: Vikings are signing former Broncos LB Todd Davis

Please welcome former Broncos linebacker Todd Davis, who is reportedly signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

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Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr left the Week 2 loss to the Colts Sunday.

His injury turned out to be a torn pec. The Vikings placed him on IR and Barr will reportedly be out for the remainder of the 2020 NFL season.

That leaves a pretty big gap at linebacker, one that couldn’t just be filled by players below Barr on the depth chart.

So Minnesota went out in free agency and reportedly added some linebacker depth that way. The team signed former Broncos LB Todd Davis, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.

The Vikings are signing Davis to a one-year deal, per Pelissero.

Davis has started at least 14 games for the Broncos in the past four seasons. He tallied 134 tackles in 2019. The season before that, he had 114.

He’s a good option for the Vikings in free agency. I don’t think he can fully replace what Barr was capable of, but he can be part of a linebacker committee that can try its best to replace him.

Former Broncos LB Todd Davis to visit Vikings after clearing COVID-19 protocols

Linebacker Todd Davis has started at least 14 games for the Broncos in each of the past four seasons.

Yesterday, the Vikings placed Anthony Barr on IR and had linebacker Cale Garrett on the tryout list.

With the position being a thin one on the team right now, the Vikings intend to bring in another linebacker for a tryout.

Mike Klis of 9News reported that former Broncos LB Todd Davis will undergo COVID-19 protocols, and assuming he clears, will visit with the team.

Klis also reported that Davis is “expected” to sign with the Vikings.

“Broncos would get $500k offset on his salary.” Klis said on Twitter.

In the last four seasons, Davis has started at least 14 games for the Broncos. He seems like good value in free agency for a team that desperately needs linebacker depth. He also seems like he’d be a more solidified linebacker candidate than Garrett.

There is the red flag of him being waived by Denver, but he’s definitely worth taking a flyer on.

Needing LB help, Rams should consider recently released Todd Davis

Todd Davis played last season with Brandon Staley in Denver.

Sean McVay said several times this week that the Rams are comfortable with their current group of linebackers despite Travin Howard’s season-ending injury. However, he did leave the door open to adding help on the waiver wire when teams begin trimming their roster today and into Saturday.

Fortunately for the Rams, a veteran just became available who could provide some much-needed help at linebacker.

The Broncos cut Todd Davis on Friday in what was a somewhat surprising move. It saved them $4.5 million against the cap, which made the decision less shocking, but Davis had been a starter for Denver for the last four seasons.

At just 28 years old, he still has plenty of good football ahead of him despite having four years of starting experience in the NFL. Last season alone, he had 134 tackles and missed just six tackle attempts, which is a really good rate for a linebacker – or any defender, for that matter.

Six of those tackles went for a loss, while he also broke up one pass and hit the quarterback once.

What makes Davis an especially intriguing free agent for the Rams is the fact that he has some familiarity with the Rams’ defense. Brandon Staley was the Broncos’ outside linebackers coach in 2019 and he’s expected to carry over many of the same aspects of Vic Fangio’s defense from Denver – a system Davis spent last year in.

Staley may not have coached Davis directly, but they worked on the same defense, which carries some merit. Even Leonard Floyd, who was coached by Staley in 2017 and 2018, said this offseason that the Rams’ defense is similar to what the Bears ran when Staley was there.

There is a reason Davis became available, though, and it’s not just because he was expensive. He’s not very good in coverage, allowing a completion rate of 78.7% on passes in his area the last two seasons, surrendering five touchdowns with only eight breakups – seven of which came in 2018 alone.

He’s also coming off a calf injury, which has his status for Week 1 up in the air. He’ll be fully healthy at some point, but he may not be 100% yet.

Even still, the Rams should consider bringing the veteran in, simply based on their desperate need for depth. Even if McVay says they like the guys they have, Davis would be an upgrade and has more experience than the Rams’ entire linebacker room combined.

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Broncos saved $4.5 million by cutting LB Todd Davis

The Broncos’ decision to cut Todd Davis will give them more salary cap space.

The Denver Broncos’ decision to release veteran inside linebacker Todd Davis was a bit of a surprise when the news broke. After reviewing the situation, though, the team’s decision makes sense.

Davis, 28, missed time with a calf injury last season and he suffered another calf injury this summer. Even if he recovers in time for Week 1, Davis’ uncertain injury status hurt his chances of making the 53-man roster.

Davis’ contract situation was also likely a factor — a big factor.

Denver was scheduled to pay Davis a $5 million base salary, with $500,000 guaranteed. He also has a $1 million prorated signing bonus cap hit, according to OverTheCap.com. By releasing Davis, the Broncos created a net salary cap savings of $4.5 million (he has a $1.5 million dead money hit).

Denver’s recent roster moves also help explain Davis’ release.

Earlier this week, the Broncos signed coverage linebacker Mark Barron. Denver also acquired inside linebacker Austin Calitro in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Friday. Calitro and Barron will help replace Davis.

Alexander Johnson will serve as one of the Broncos’ starting inside linebackers and he will likely be joined by either Josey Jewell or Calitro. Barron is expected to rotate in for passing situations.

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Broncos cut linebacker Todd Davis

The Broncos cut veteran inside linebacker Todd Davis.

The Denver Broncos have released inside linebacker Todd Davis, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Davis (6-1, 230 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State with the New Orleans Saints in 2014. After bouncing back and forth from the Saints’ active roster to practice squad, Davis landed in Denver midway through his rookie season.

Davis served as a rotational linebacker when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 in 2015 and he emerged as a starter in 2016. When healthy, he served as a starter in each of the last four seasons. In six seasons in Denver, Davis totaled 444 tackles, two sacks, 13 pass breakups and one interception.

Davis is still recovering from a calf injury.

Davis was a good run linebacker but wasn’t good enough in coverage to stay on the field for third downs. The Broncos signed coverage linebacker Mark Barron earlier this week and traded for Austin Calitro on Friday.

Calitro might be the favorite to start next to Alexander Johnson at inside linebacker with Barron replacing him in passing situations. Other options include Josey Jewell, Justin Hollins, Joe Jones and Josh Watson.

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