Is it time to worry about Tennessee Titans right guard, Nate Davis?
You never want to make too much of a player missing time during the preseason, but it is a bit troubling that Tennessee Titans rookie right guard Nate Davis has been absent of late.
Davis missed yet another practice on Saturday after he was not spotted on the field, and he has now not practiced since he left the field early during the August 1st session with a still undisclosed injury or ailment.
Here was the initial report on Davis leaving practice early that day.
Nate Davis went inside with a trainer during the final team period. He took a knee on the sideline. It's burning up out here so it was probably just dehydration or heat exhaustion. #Titans
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 1, 2019
Here’s the report from today.
No sign of David Fluellen, A. J. Brown, Derrick Henry, Nate Davis, Frank Herron here at #Titans practice.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 10, 2019
Aside from all of these missed practices, the 2019 third-round pick did not play at all in the team’s preseason opener on Thursday night, also.
Now, it must be said that head coaches will always take precaution with players who are dealing with injuries this early, no matter how minor. Fellow rookie A.J. Brown has been out since the first day of camp with what was described as a day-to-day injury.
The length of time Davis has been out isn’t exactly the root of the concern here.
What is concerning is that there hasn’t been a peep about him from head coach Mike Vrabel, who has at least addressed the aforementioned Brown injury, and the one to running back Derrick Henry, albeit without specifics in both cases.
Davis is also missing valuable practice time that he could be using to earn a starting job. Both he and veteran Kevin Pamphile are in a competition for the starting right guard spot, and Davis is losing ground every day he’s out.
Not to mention, fellow guard Jamil Douglas seems to be working his way into the mix, creating even more potential competition for Davis.
Jamil Douglas working with the 1s today at right guard. @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 10, 2019
Of course, you can’t blame a player for missing time due to injury — that’s out of their control.
But it’s especially hard for rookies to miss time because of what it takes to acclimate to the NFL. Not missing practice is doubly important for rookies who are trying to crack the starting lineup like Davis is, and even a short amount of missed time could be the difference.
Davis was showing up in camp and had himself a legit chance to beat Pamphile out for the gig on the right side, however his stock will continue to go down the longer he remains sidelined.