New England Patriots
Davis grew up minutes away from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. After battling a neck injury, he’s ready to face his hometown team.
Durable cornerback Carlton Davis played in all 17 regular-season games and the four postseason contests in his first year with the Patriots. Charles Krupa
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FOXBOROUGH — After missing four of the Patriots first seven games, cornerback Carlton Davis is planning to play against the Dolphins on Sunday.
He told reporters that he doesn’t have any concerns about the neck injury that sidelined him.
“I’m good to go,” Davis said. “I wouldn’t be out here if I had any concerns, so yeah, I’m good.”
Davis injured his neck in the season opener against Seattle and missed the Week 2 contest against the Steelers. He came back the following week against Jacksonville and also played against the Bills in Week 4.
He missed the Patriots’ last three games against Las Vegas, New York, and Chicago after aggravating the injury. His initial return was too soon, he said, but now he feels ready.
“Just day in day out, trying to look for ways to get better,” Davis said of his recovery. “Not trying to rush the process, trying to be efficient, recovering, and being able to get back out there, being a guy that my team can depend on.
“I think the worst is just sitting on the sideline, watching plays being made or being a bystander. Last year I played in every game, this year I was looking to do the same, and it’s a bit disappointing to not be able to do that.”
Christian Gonzalez and Craig Woodson have also missed time with injuries. The secondary was expected to be a strength for the Patriots heading into the season.
Safety Kevin Byard said the Patriots don’t yet know exactly how strong that unit can be because they haven’t been fully healthy since the opener.
“Honestly, it’s crazy to say because we don’t really know yet because we’ve only played one game all together,” Byard said. “Carlton is a good player. Week 1, I feel like we did some really good things and we have to be able to build on that because obviously guys have been in and out of the lineup.
“But, being able to get a corner like him, a really elite press corner who can ballhawk as well, I’m really excited to be able to have all five guys out there together.”
Davis also brings valuable experience, Gonzalez said, adding that the veteran cornerback’s return is welcome.
“[Davis] is a great vet,” Gonzalez said. “Somebody that I lean on a lot and am able to talk to, pick his mind about certain things. He’s seen a lot of ball, so just having him back out there is amazing.”
Davis’s return will take place in his hometown of Miami Gardens. He starred at nearby Miami Norland Senior High School and grew up within walking distance of Hard Rock Stadium.
“It’s always fun to go back to Miami and play my hometown. I’ve got a lot of people coming to the games and asking for tickets, so getting that settled, but it’s always fun to go back and play.
“I actually live maybe like two minutes away from the stadium, so growing up I always watched and heard the games and any events that were going on at the stadium. So, it’s a full-circle moment for me.”
He grew up dreaming of hearing his name over the loudspeaker at a Dolphins game. He’ll be wearing different colors on Sunday, but, now that he’s healthy, he’ll have an opportunity to make a little noise of his own.
“I think it has always been a dream,” Davis said. “I think just hearing the noise just kind of motivated us. With it being that close in proximity, I guess it made the dream a little more realistic because it’s like ‘I’m right here.’”
“I could feel the energy. I could feel the noise. I could see what was going on. I went to a couple of games, so I always felt like it was in my realm to make it.”
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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