The Denver Broncos had their first training camp practice on Thursday and already, a member of the team’s defense was carted off the field. Linebacker Todd Davis was taken off the field with an injury and could miss the next month of team activities.
That’s not what the team needed.
Though Davis should be back in time to play in the team’s regular-season opener (and perhaps even some preseason games), the team is learning a new defense under Vic Fangio and his presence will be needed.
Inside linebacker was considered one of the team’s biggest weaknesses this offseason. Outside of a trade for veteran Dekoda Watson and the signing of a few undrafted free agents, the Broncos didn’t do much to address that weakness.
Davis is expected to be one of the starters alongside Josey Jewell, but his absence will give Watson, Keishawn Bierria, Joe Jones, Joe Dineen and Malik Reed a chance to show what they can do.
If this training camp could see a player emerge from out of nowhere, it could be one of the guys on that list.
Luckily, the injury to Davis ended up not being too severe, but it’s not the way a team wants to open camp.
Davis will be entering his sixth season in Denver. He is coming off the best season of his career, one that included 114 total tackles and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.
