How Healthy Is Carlton Davis?
October 9th, 2023
Cornerback Carlton Davis.
After opening day in Minnesota, Bucs No. 1 cornerback Carlton Davis disappeared from the lineup for two games with a somewhat mysterious toe injury.
He practiced before the Week 4 game against the Saints and was ruled ready to roll in New Orleans.
But how healthy was Davis and is he 100 percent now? That’s always a gray area once a season starts. Players are working through various levels of injury and nobody outside team headquarters and family members knows the truth.
Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross talked about Davis returning against the Saints and his take wasn’t uplifting.
“He did pretty good for his first time back. I was surprised,” Ross told the Buccaneers Radio Network. “He did pretty well. We just got to keep him healthy and keep him in shape and we’ll see what happens from there.”
Ross’ words and tone of voice sounded like the Bucs expect the Davis toe injury to linger.
Is it a form of turf toe?
Whatever the injury is, Joe hopes the bye week fixed it 100 percent. From here forward it’s a direct run to the postseason.
Ross praised Davis as a communicator and for his ability to keep teammates loose — and playing loose. He also said Davis and Jamel Dean need to earn their big salaries with big plays, and that both lead the cornerbacks room currently when it comes to fines assessed by the coach for subpar performance.
It was unclear whether Ross was referring to games, practice or both.
October 9th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Fines? Dayum.
October 9th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
CD3 is more a matter of health than effort. Jamel Dean did get injured but his effort and play have been horrible this season.
Start Zyon the rest of the season at the point and trade/cut Dean and draft/sign a replacement.
October 9th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
I know it probably isn’t true, but I *feel* like Zyon McCollum and Christian Izien make more splash plays then Davis and Dean. Heck, even Dee Delaney is more visible than our starters.
October 9th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Davis injures his toe on turf, sits out a few weeks, then returns on turf. Lingering toe injuries correlate with playing on turf. Carlton’s toe longs to play on grass. It was a head scratcher to bring him back on turf last week.
October 9th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
@Bucsfan and Joseph Simmons
I share you views and your “feelings”.
October 9th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Davis and Dean have ALWAYS been overrated and underperforming.
Now that they got their bag, I don’t expect much more.
October 9th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
Davis led the Bucs with 11 pass breakups last season and that was more than twice as many as Dean. Davis is only under contract through the 24 season , so I would believe barring his toe worsening, that he will have a great year. Davis is our best cover corner without a doubt.
October 9th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
I will defend Davis III. He has played physical, tough, tackles well, and has covered other teams #1 receivers throughout his career. The man just can’t catch a cold. Outside of that he is a quality starter to above average starter in this league. He would be considered above average/great if he caught all the int’s that have hit him in his hands.
Dean could be great himself but I suspect he’s suffering from Swaggy Baker syndrome.
October 9th, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Davis is good but Dean is still a question mark to me.
October 9th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Got curious after hearing folks bad-mouth Dean but praise Davis.
Dean has averaged 14.3 games per season over his previous 4 seasons with us, while Davis has averaged 12.8 games per season over his previous 5 seasons as a Buc.
Dean has allowed a 54.9% completion percentage, while Davis has allowed a 56.9% completion percentage.
Dean has allowed 11 TDs as a Buc, while Davis has allowed 23 TDs.
Both Dean & Davis have 7 INTs during their regular seasons as a Buc.
October 9th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
@DR I’ll clarify my viewpoint as that I believe Dean is the more gifted and talented player. He did play better than Carlton. That’s why I said he could be great. My issue is it appears to me as a fan that he played just well enough to get paid and is no longer playing hard. Like Swaggy Baker before him or another more egregious example would Albert Haynesworth.
October 9th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A Bucs Fan … Can’t see Dean as a Swaggy Baker type. Over his time as a Buc, he’s really worked hard to perfect his trade. From what’s been written, seems to have a special relationship with Bowles (I think 1 article even referred to Bowles as his father-figure). No way he’s gonna let him down like that by turning into a Swaggy Baker.
Kinda wondering is he wasn’t playing hurt in a couple of those first 3 games. Didn’t look like he had nearly the burst that he’s had in years past (same with Davis BTW when he came back after that toe issue). McCollum, Delaney & Izien did really well filling in IMO, but thsu far I haven’t been impressed with the accuracy of the QBs we’ve faced except for Cousins.
October 9th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Neither one come close to justifying the stupid money thrown their way. The Bucs have too much money tied up with those two for average play at best.
October 9th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
CD III average at best, Makes plays from time to time…. That’s all !
October 9th, 2023 at 6:10 pm
@DR – I don’t disagree with your sentiments and I’m willing to be wrong. But this has been his worst season start in his career. I hope I am because of the investment the Bucs made paying him this offeseasin.
October 9th, 2023 at 6:17 pm
Offseason*
October 9th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
I have always been high on Dean. He has natural instincts that you can see. But he has not looked the same this year. I think explosiveness (or lack of) is a great way to describe it D.R.
perhaps you’re right that he’s had some injury since the start of the year. I dunno, but hes probably been the most disappointing Buc to me so far this year.
October 9th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Not Mr. “We’re gonna wreck sh*t!” That didn’t age well lol…he wrecked himself getting burnt like toast…and Jamel Dean needs vitamin d and calcium he too frail. Our back ups playing like they need them to restructure thier deals just my opinion
October 9th, 2023 at 8:53 pm
Davis and Dean are both studs and they have a Lombardi Trophy to back it up. World Champs
October 9th, 2023 at 11:05 pm
If you aren’t noticing cornerbacks, it is a good thing, usually.
October 9th, 2023 at 11:34 pm
What kind of a buffoon questions a player’s effort? I question this person’s intelligence.
Then another wind bag says turf toe happens on turf. Man, STFU with your stupidity.
And another saying Davis and Dean always underperform. Two of the best CBs since 2019 are underperforming by some pea brain’s analysis?
Was this a post to see who can make the most idiotic comments? There are so many. No way I can choose.
October 10th, 2023 at 12:19 am
A few years back both Dean and Davis were in the top 5 for passes defended I remember. One had like 17 and the other 19 I believe.
Yes they have both won a SB and played really well through the playoffs that year.
But, we aren’t talking about past years are we?
Saying STFU is what is stupid!!
If you can’t tell that the Bucs CB play outside Zyon has been bad, then you don’t know football. PERIOD.
The play that comes to mind for Dean, is getting beat horribly by DJ Moore. And DJ Moore is elite as evidenced by his insane game against Washington. Dean flipped his hips like Moore was gonna blow past him 5 yards early. Moore cut in and caught a pass with nobody within 10 yds, including Dean.
Dean has 4.3 speed. Real speed. Most years he doesn’t do that, so I agree he has looked injured. He sold his body out though to make a tackle with a hurt shoulder (Does make me wonder why he was playing).
No way is this guy a swaggy Baker.
I think they can BOTH recover and play excellent ball THIS YEAR, but I don’t agree with either of them playing HURT over a healthy Zyon, just because we are paying them.
This is a what have you done for me TODAY league.
Let’s see what happens Sunday against a true PLETHORA of quality receivers.
If there is 1 team I would say has better receivers than us, I would say Detroit.
October 10th, 2023 at 12:22 am
“fines assessed by the coach for subpar performance.”
Now that’s REAL accountability. Glad to hear it.
Thanks for the juicy tidbit you kind of buried in that story Joe. Good to know.
October 10th, 2023 at 1:27 am
We need Davis at 100%
Do not rush him back if he is not. Lets face it he has a turf toe!
You do not miss 2 weeks with a scratch on your pinky toe.
Go Bucs!
October 10th, 2023 at 1:30 am
Fines? I am not sure if that is a typo or what? Please enlighten me…
Go Bucs
October 10th, 2023 at 5:19 am
Never been a fan of paying system CBs that kind of money. Those two are both lite on splash plays, consistently miss games every year…it’s obvious Licht wanted to extend them to validate his picks to ownership. Winfield is the only stud in the secondary that deserves a pay day.