Carolina Panthers starting weak-side linebacker Thomas Davis suffered hip and hamstring injuries in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, so he immediately looked like a toss-up for the team’s Week 4 battle against Steve Smith and the Baltimore Ravens (it still feels so weird to type that phrase).
Cat Crave
Davis, however, was able to return to practice on Thursday, thus making it look likely for him to suit up. He also got in some limited work on Friday and looked “pretty good”, according to Panthers head coach Ron Rivera.
According to the Charlotte Observer’s Jonathan Jones and Joe Person, Rivera stated that his “gut feeling” is that Davis will be able to square off against the Ravens and be healthy enough to get the start. It’s great news for Panthers fans, but it will be interesting to see if Davis, who is listed as questionable on the injury report, ends up being a game-time decision.
So far this season, the 31-year-old has 19 tackles and a pass defended, including a 12-tackle performance in the team’s dominant win over the Detroit Lions, which included a monstrous show of defensive force. If Davis plays, then he won’t have to draw coverage assignments against Dennis Pitta (out for the year), but he will have his hands full in the running game and will likely have to cover Owen Daniels at times.