Tyler Davis suffers torn ACL
The veteran tight end will undoubtedly miss the 2023 season
By PackerAaron
Tough news coming out of last night's preseason game against the Bengals with tight end Tyler Davis, who caught two passes for nine yards, including a touchdown, suffered an ACL tear that saw him leave the contest on a cart.
#Packers TE Tyler Davis suffered a torn ACL in Friday’s preseason game, per source. Davis is a core special teamer. “My heart hurts for him,” Matt LaFleur said after the game.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 12, 2023
This news doesn't come as much of a surprise given how head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about Davis and the injury when asked about it after last night's game.
“TD, my heart hurts for him. He’s been a key contributor to our success the last couple of years,” said LaFleur. “Whether it’s on teams or carving out a role on our offense, he’s the consummate professional. Great teammate, great human. We’re going to miss him.”
Davis was having a solid camp and was the Packers most experienced inline blocker in the tight end group. He was also a starter on several special teams units. The Packers will undoubtedly look within to fill those voids but don't rule out Green Bay finding a tight end on the waiver wire at some point.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Comments (15)
DragonSilk
August 12, 2023 at 11:01 am
Oh Boy. What a bitch for him. As I was watching the game I was thinking how bad it would suck to have a serious injury in the first PS game, for anyone in the league.
Tyler is a solid dependable guy. Everyone can't be a star. You need guys like him to round out the team.
BAMABADGER
August 12, 2023 at 11:21 am
I'm old school and hate the way QBs are protected. With that said, the low hit to Tyler David knee was unnecessary. If you protect the QBs, you might as well protect all the players on the field. The DB could have easily tackled David at the waist, but that would have required something that is no longer appreciated or taught... a form tackle.
coolhand
August 13, 2023 at 10:56 am
I agree. I thought it was cheap shot low hit on Davis. The tackler dove at his knees when he easily could have hit him higher at the waist.
NewToCheez
August 13, 2023 at 01:18 pm
I watched the replay a few times and he was looking outside to the sideline for the pass and Clifford did not lead him the pass was slightly behind him and he made the adjustment and turned towards the pass, it’s just sad how this slight adjustment takes your focus for a split second. The tackle was a cheap shot, there should be repercussions for these hits.
No mention of any of this in the media and the announcers seemed delighted that a big hit was finally laid out.
Leatherhead
August 12, 2023 at 11:42 am
What a piece of bad luck for him. He'll be 27 next year,coming off rehab, whereas he could have been the starting TE for the Packers looking at a big money deal. He was "only" making around a million this year, but he's already made $3.5 million, and if you divide that over a lifetime, you'd have to make like 90K a year, every year, for 40 years.
Still, through High School and College until now, he's been a football player, and he's done a massive amount of work to make himself bigger and stronger and faster and push his physical limits. That money wasn't free.
If he can walk without a limp on his 27th birthday next April, he's still way ahead of the game, even if his football days are over. He could start his own business. I'd recommend an Air Conditioning Repair service in Texas.
dblbogey
August 12, 2023 at 03:05 pm
I'll upvote the air conditioning reference. Cold front coming Tuesday here in Texas, high will only be 97. Anybody have Big Dawg's number?
Thegreatreynoldo
August 12, 2023 at 12:20 pm
This is a big loss. Davis was on every special teams unit, and helped make a very mediocre group as a whole better. I thought he was going to play many more snaps than the 174 he played on offense in 2022. Sorry to lose him and I wish him well with a full recovery.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 12, 2023 at 01:36 pm
A moment of silence for our 1# special team player. Most snaps last year. To further highlight how big this loss is to the team, as of now either MLF forfeits resurrecting the FB position this season to gain 2 more TEs in #44 Pearson and 81 DeGuara, or we have 2 rookies plus #49 Allen.
If Gutey can add a great prospect for ST and blocking TE off waivers? Great but no way does that make up for losing Tyler Davis this year ...
Wishing him a speedy recovery 🙏
Qoojo
August 12, 2023 at 12:51 pm
All-in on rookie TEs now. No alternative besides FA or trade. Feel bad for him since it sounds like Davis made a leap from last year too.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 12, 2023 at 01:37 pm
Plus #49 Allen, 6'8 253#. #44 and 81 listed as FB; that position might get forfeited to have two more TEs?
SicSemperTyrannis
August 12, 2023 at 01:41 pm
This injury was on artificial turf. I'm sure Bakh will take note. Fake turf next week too. Seattle is also fake but it's one of the better / best artificial playing surfaces. Cincy's is new and "good," as far as that goes.
dobber
August 12, 2023 at 04:47 pm
He took a hard, low hit at the knees on one of his catches where he was upended hard. Maybe if they were on grass it would be less severe, but it's the kind of hit that finishes seasons.
Since'61
August 13, 2023 at 07:29 am
Forget the score of the game. This is what matters. We've lost our best inline blocking TE and one of our best if not best ST player. This is the cost of a meaningless preseason game. What's the point? Very unfortunate for a solid, hard working player who contributes to the team in every game.
I'd say to call Mercedes Lewis but he signed with the Bears.
The Packers also had injuries to Goodson, Tenuta and Caleb Jones. As of yet we don't know how serious any of those injuries may be. But if the injuries to Caleb Jones and Tenuta are serious our OL depth could be impacted. Tenuta was probably questionable to make the final 53 but Caleb Jones is expected to be a backup OT. Hopefully these 3 players will still be ready for Week 1.
If not 4 players injured in a preseason game is a high attrition rate.
Thanks, Since '61
greengold
August 13, 2023 at 08:15 am
Yeah, Since’61, it’s a really tough call any way you look at it. I’ve been back & forth with this for years.
That attrition rate, according to this study, shows injuries are markedly higher through the first 4 weeks of the regular season without preseason games:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8365220/
There are other studies too. Take all of it together, and I find it difficult to say which is the one right path.
What I’ve found is that without preseason, readiness and true talent evaluation suffers.
I totally get where you’re coming from on this subject.
PatrickGB
August 13, 2023 at 12:23 pm
With the way that some players have been able to come back from torn ACLs, I wonder if he can be back in time for the playoffs? 😉. Seriously, it sucks for him and the team. I wish him the best.