Carlton Davis III’s Unexpected Appearance at Pats’ OTAs Sparks Speculation—What’s Next for the Team?

It’s fascinating how one player’s presence, or rather absence, can shift the entire spotlight during OTA sessions. Stefon Diggs had been hogging the headlines in New England—until he finally showed up on Monday, diverting all eyes away from another notable no-show: cornerback Carlton Davis III. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Davis stayed away from all the voluntary workouts reporters have had access to, only making an appearance this Thursday. Now, this isn’t just any player missing in action—this is a guy the Patriots invested heavily in just this past March, locking him down with a three-year deal worth $54 million, $34.5 million guaranteed no less. For those who don’t know, Davis entered the league as a second-round pick back in 2018 with the Buccaneers, manned the secondary for six seasons, made a stop in Detroit last year, and is now set to pair up with Christian Gonzalez as one of New England’s top cornerbacks. With a fractured jaw cutting his season short last year, many have been wondering what shape he’ll be in—and honestly, I’m just as curious to see if his absence at OTAs signals something bigger or if it’s just a case of a player managing offseason pacing. LEARN MORE

In March, the Patriots signed Davis to a three-year, million contract, with .5 million guaranteed.Via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Davis had not been present for any of the OTA sessions that had been open to reporters until Thursday.Davis appeared in 13 games for Detroit. A fractured jaw suffered against the Bills in Week 15 sidelined him for the rest of the season.Nothing provides cover for missing OTAs like having a teammate whose absence from the voluntary practices gets all the attention.The 28-year-old arrived in the NFL as a second-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2018. After six years in Tampa, he was traded to the Lions last year.

In New England, free-agent receiver Stefon Diggs had been the focal point until he showed up on Monday. That kept the absences of cornerback Carlton Davis III from being noticed.In New England, he’s expected to join Christian Gonzalez as the starting cornerbacks.