Nov 10, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) intercepts a pass interned for Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots, CB Carlton Davis agree to $60M contract

Free agent cornerback Carlton Davis agreed to join the New England Patriots on a three-year contract worth up to $60 million, according to multiple reports.

New England also picked up linebacker Robert Spillane (Las Vegas Raiders) on a reported three-year, $37.5 million agreement, according to multiple reports.

Adding Davis addresses the secondary and a focus of the new defense being implemented by head coach Mike Vrabel, who can pair the physical and aggressive Davis with left cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Davis, 28, was acquired by the Detroit Lions before the 2024 season but finished his lone season in Detroit on injured reserve with a broken jaw.

A self-described lockdown corner, Davis is a top-end competitor with the size to line up at multiple positions in New England’s scheme.

Spillane is a former Titans linebacker under Vrabel and an ex-teammate of outside linebacker Harold Landry, who agreed to join the Patriots after being released by Tennessee last week.

He led the Raiders with a career-high 158 tackles and had two sacks and two interceptions in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) congratulates wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) on his touchdown score during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. among GTDs vs. Eagles

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis and running back Travis Etienne will be game-time decisions for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia, coach Doug Pederson announced Friday.

Thomas (chest) and Davis (shoulder) sustained their respective injuries during Jacksonville’s 30-27 setback to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. Etienne (hamstring) has missed the past two games.

Pederson, however, said left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle) is “probably not gonna make it” for the Week 9 contest between the Jaguars (2-6) and Eagles (5-2).

Thomas, 22, leads the team in catches (33), receiving yards (573) and receiving touchdowns (five). The rookie was selected by the Jaguars with the 23rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Davis, 25, has 18 receptions for 217 yards and two scores in eight games.

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Etienne has rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in six starts this season. Etienne, 25, has 16 catches for 91 yards.

Second-year running back Tank Bigsby leads Jacksonville in carries (85), rushing yards (493) and rushing TDs (four).

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) leaves the field to the locker room after sustaining an apparent injury during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jags WR Kirk (collarbone) done for season; MRI for Thomas (ribs)

The Jacksonville Jaguars incurred injuries to all three starting wide receivers in their last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Christian Kirk is done for the season with a broken collarbone and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. will undergo an MRI on his ribs, multiple outlets reported. Gabe Davis left in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return.

Kirk was injured early in the fourth quarter of the 30-27 loss to the Packers. He landed on his left shoulder after laying out to catch a deep pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was quickly ruled out of the game and was in a sling afterward.

Kirk, 27, had two catches for 59 yards prior to the injury. He has 27 catches for 379 yards and a touchdown in eight games (seven starts) this season. He’s in the third year of a four-year deal worth $72 million. This is his second straight year with a season-ending injury; he missed the final five games in 2023 with a groin injury.

Thomas, 22, had three catches for 60 yards and a score in Sunday’s game. The 2024 first-round pick has 33 catches for 573 yards and five TDs on the season.

Davis, 25, has 18 catches for 217 yards and two TDs. He signed a three-year deal worth $39 million in March.

Backup wideouts Tim Jones and Parker Washington both saw action Sunday. Washington hauled in three catches for 46 yards on four targets. Jones had one catch for 20 yards.

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III (24) gestures after a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Lions receive CB Carlton Davis III in trade with Buccaneers

The Detroit Lions acquired veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The Lions will also receive sixth-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 drafts, while Tampa Bay will receive a 2024 third-round selection from Detroit.

Davis is slated to earn $14 million in base salary in 2024 in the final season of a three-year, $44.5 million deal.

Davis, 27, spent his first six NFL seasons with the Buccaneers and has nine interceptions, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 324 tackles in 76 games (75 starts).

He had a career-best four interceptions in 2020 when he earned a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay.

Davis played college football for Auburn and was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kalia Davis (93) celebrates his sack against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

49ers downgrade DT Kalia Davis (ankle) to out for Super Bowl

The San Francisco 49ers announced Saturday that defensive tackle Kalia Davis has been ruled out of the Super Bowl XVIII matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Davis has an ankle injury and was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. He was a full practice participant during the week.

Davis, 25, played in three regular-season games for San Francisco this season. He sustained the ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 17 and has since been sidelined.

The 49ers also elevated defensive linemen Alex Barrett and T.Y. McGill from the practice squad on Saturday.

Barrett, 29, last played in an NFL game during the 2020 season for the 49ers. McGill, 31, played in two games for San Francisco this season.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis (13) runs with the ball after making a catch against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills WR Gabe Davis on OC change: ‘Behind Dorsey 100 percent’

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis openly defends fired coordinator Ken Dorsey and takes offense to suggestions he was to blame for the team’s downturn in production.

“It’s on us players to go out there and play at a high level and execute,” Davis said Thursday.

Davis said the “offense is the offense” and there are no major changes coming after the Bills decided to move on from Dorsey and install Joe Brady as the coordinator on Tuesday. He said he’s in a “weird space” and is trying to find answers in “harsh truth.”

“If anyone tries to blame one guy, they definitely don’t know what they’re talking about,” Davis said. “He put me in the best position last week to go and catch a runner. It went through my hands. Where in that does that get put on Dorsey? There are things out there that we created. … In reality, we’re just going through a little adversity. It’s just been tough. I definitely have defended Dorsey 100 percent. It takes a team. You ask any of these guys, and we’re behind him 100 percent.

“We’re 5-5. We’ve lost five games (by) 23 points totals. With the amount of bad plays, the amount of turnovers. There’s been games we’ve made a lot of mistakes and yet we’re still in it.”

Quarterback Josh Allen leads the NFL with 11 interceptions and had two picks Monday in a 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos (4-5). Allen said Dorsey would still be the coordinator if he was performing to his own expectations.

“I take that very personally,” he said. “It hurts a lot to see someone you care about go through a situation like that and to know that if I could have done more, if this offense could have done more, we wouldn’t have had to do something like that.”

Davis said all of the questions asked by media and other pundits are questions they’re asking themselves.

“There’s some accountability we all have to take that we are where we are. We all have hands in it,” said Davis, who has 33 catches for 490 yards and five scores. “We all have to figure out how we can do better.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Washington Huskies running back Cameron Davis (22) carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the third quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Washington loses RB Cameron Davis to season-ending injury

Washington running back Cameron Davis is out for the season with a leg injury, leaving the No. 10 Huskies to scramble in the days before the season begins.

Davis was injured in practice last week. Washington plans to push more of the load to transfer Dillon Johnson, but will also count on untested ball carriers to balance the workload.

“Cam is a huge part of (our offense),” Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer said. “It’s his second year in the system … works so hard, leads the right way, disciplined guy. He not only does a great job with the ball in his hands but in pass protection he knows everything inside and out.”

Davis led Pac-12 freshmen with 13 rushing touchdowns in 2022 as part of a shared backfield cooperative with Wayne Taulapapa. Entering his sophomore season, Davis had Washington “excited about where he was.”

Johnson joined UW after three seasons at Mississippi State under the late Mike Leach.

“Guys have the opportunity to step up and we want that from them. And they will,” DeBoer said. “That’s what every football season brings is adversity and our team is going to respond in a great way.”

Washington opens the season against Boise State on Sept. 2.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, US; A partial view of a flower board with an image of D'Sean Perry, one of three Virginia Cavaliers football players killed in a campus shooting on November 13th is displayed prior to the start of a memorial at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia remembers 3 slain football players at graduation

Virginia remembered the three football players killed in an on-campus shooting last fall during graduation ceremonies Saturday, with athletic director Carla Williams thanking the community for its support during difficult times.

Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were awarded posthumous degrees in December. Perry was scheduled to graduate with the Class of 2023.

In her keynote address, Williams discussed the support the campus and beyond in the aftermath of the Nov. 13 shooting.

“Without one spoken word, the people of this community said in unison, in their movement and their spirit, we care about each other,” she said, reflecting on the vigil held on campus the night after the shooting, per ESPN. “Please do not forget what we’ve been through together, and may it compel you to show you care about the suffering and the experiences of others. You are the ones responsible for that vigil. You. Students. You are bright and shining examples of the best we have to offer. We need your courageous spirit.”

Running back Mike Hollins, who was shot and wounded in the campus incident, participated in the ceremony. A fifth-year senior, he took part in Virginia’s spring game.

The football program posted a tribute on Twitter, too, with coach Tony Elliott holding Perry’s jersey in a photo.

“Congratulations to D’Sean Perry and the Class of 2023,” the post read. On “a day of celebration, we would like to honor Lavel, Devin, and D’Sean.”

A former Virginia player, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., faces a variety of charges in connection with the shooting, including three counts of second-degree murder.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (43) is tackled by Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer (21) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Bills’ Jordan Poyer, Jets’ Corey Davis out for AFC East clash

Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer and New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis have been ruled out of Sunday’s game in East Rutherford, N.J.

Poyer had yet to practice this week after injuring his elbow in the second half of the Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.

The absence of the All-Pro could result in newly acquired safety Dean Marlowe seeing additional time against the Jets. Marlowe, a former Bill, was acquired from the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

Poyer, 31, has four interceptions to go along with 21 tackles in five games this season.

Linebackers Von Miller (ankle) and Matt Milano (oblique) are considered day-to-day with their respective injuries, Bills coach Sean McDermott said.

Davis, 27, will miss his second straight game after sustaining a knee injury in New York’s 16-9 victory over the Denver Broncos on Oct. 23.

Davis has 19 catches for 351 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season.

Rookie Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios and Denzel Mims likely will see a bit more playing time in his absence.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens DE Calais Campbell (illness) out vs. Bucs

Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell has been ruled out of Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to illness.

Campbell didn’t practice all week. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has three sacks this season and 96.5 in his 15-year career.

Baltimore listed eight players as questionable: Tight end Mark Andrews (knee), receiver Rashod Bateman (foot), linebacker Josh Bynes (quadricep), running back Gus Edwards (knee), cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (hamstring), Marcus Peters (quadriceps) and Brandon Stephens (oblique) and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle).

The Buccaneers have ruled out six players, including three in the secondary. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III (hip) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (quadriceps) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) will miss the game as will tight end Cameron Brate (neck), wideout Russell Gage Jr. (hamstring) and guard Luke Goedeke (foot).

Tampa Bay listed defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (foot) and receiver Julio Jones (knee) as questionable.

–Field Level Media