Ironman linebacker Demario Davis back where he belongs for New Orleans Saints

'I told all the guys, I put in all my vet days. I took all my vacation days, I got them out of the way'

Aug 24, 2023 at 02:55 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

2023 New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr.)

On one hand – and with four fingers left to use – you can count the number of games Demario Davis has missed in the first 11 years of his NFL career.

If it wasn't for vet rest days, the same probably could be said for training camp practices. So it was pretty noticeable when the New Orleans Saints' four-time All-Pro linebacker was forced to miss roughly two-and-a-half weeks of work this preseason with a calf injury.

"I haven't missed this much practice, or this much training camp, before," he said Thursday, following his third straight full-participation, full-speed practice. ""Certainly, you've got to think – and I don't know, for whatever reason – but you've got to think in Year 12, that plane may need a little more runway before it's ready to hit the sky.

"And I'm grateful to have a staff that took something that wasn't as serious, but gave me extra time to make sure that everything was functioning properly. Now, I told all the guys, I put in all my vet days. I took all my vacation days, I got them out of the way. It's time to work now, so I'm excited."

Davis said all Saints fans should be excited for the upcoming season. If his play continues in the same stratosphere, he'll be one of the main reasons for the optimism.

He finished last season with a career-high 6.5 sacks, six passed defensed, an interception, 10 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and 109 tackles for a Saints defense that finished ninth in scoring (20.3 points per game allowed), fifth in total defense (314.8 yards) and second in pass defense (184.4 yards).

Getting back in practice was a step in that direction, and his return immediately registered. Davis supplies juice, whether in the middle of a rep or while observing.

"I think he needs to be out here practicing, which is what he's doing," Coach Dennis Allen said. "I don't expect to see him in a game. I think he'll be ready to go when the season opens up."

"Certainly, it's good to be back out there with the guys," said Davis, who only has missed one of a possible 178 games, due to Covid protocol. In five seasons since joining the Saints as an unrestricted free agent, he has 22.5 sacks, two interceptions, 34 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 554 tackles and 55 tackles for loss.

"When you've spent 12 years in this game, you know it's a long season and so you want to make sure your body is fully prepared to take on that load and be your strongest at the finish of the season," he said. "Without taking preseason reps sometimes that can feel a little bit different, but I feel like as a pro, you've got to know how to get yourself to optimal level, optimal performance.

"And I think just with our practices, going against our offense – the tempo that they play at, the amount of weapons that they've got over there, the way that the coaches are calling plays – it puts you in every situation that you're going to be in in a game. So I think in practice I'll be able to get enough reps that I need to be ready Week 1."

All-Access Photos: 2023 Saints Training Camp practice 8/24/23