All eyes have been on Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive tackle Jordan Davis this summer — and, not just because of his size. Despite standing at 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, the rookie is proving to be a massive asset in a very short amount of time.
JORDAN DAVIS’ EARLY SUCCESS
Davis became an attractive player immediately, recording a 4.78-second 40-yard dash during the NFL scouting combine. He had a strong training camp, gaining attention when he lifted rookie center Cam Jurgens off of the ground during a drill.
Jordan Davis made this look too easy 😳
Warning: Strong Language
(via @Rich_Bussey) pic.twitter.com/qDzSLlONHr
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 8, 2022
In the Eagles’ first preseason game against the New York Jets, Davis was able to get a good amount of playing time in. The defensive tackle was often seen taking on two or three opposing offensive players (in all three preseason games), making his job seem quite simple.
i dunno but maybe the jets were a little concerned about jordan davis pic.twitter.com/bdLjkJ4DxT
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 13, 2022
By the end of the preseason, critics commented on the work Davis needed in pass-rushing. But, many thought he would be a part of the defensive line-up early on. However, he seemed to be underutilized in the Eagles’ first regular-season game against the Detroit Lions. With only 22 total snaps, he played the least compared to his fellow defensive tackles.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon stated, “He [Davis] did a good job when he was in there. I thought that he played his technique well, and what we’re asking him to do, he did a good job executing.”
It’s clear Davis is never going to see equal playing time in comparison to veterans Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave, and that’s okay. He has a lot to learn still and with time, comes experience. However, it would be interesting to see how he matches up against players like Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipulotu.
Davis finished the game against the Lions with two total tackles.
It’s still early on — and, after the defenses’ poor performance in Week 1, we’ll see how Gannon switches up his game play come Monday. The Eagles take on the Minnesota Vikings at 8:30 PM.
