DETROIT — Detroit Lions starting middle linebacker Jarrad Davis was carted to the locker room with a right foot injury during the first drive of the team’s preseason game Friday night.
He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on the foot Saturday, a source told ESPN.
Davis appeared to suffer the injury at the end of a 9-yard run by Buffalo Bills back LeSean McCoy when Lions teammate Devon Kennard appeared to roll up on Davis’ leg. The run was called back for holding. Davis fell to the ground clutching his right leg; he tried to get up and get to the sideline on his own but couldn’t put any pressure on the leg.
After doctors and athletic trainers examined Davis, taking his right shoe off in the process, they called for the cart to take him to the locker room. Davis needed assistance to reach the cart and then multiple Detroit defensive players went over to speak with him before he left the field.
Davis, the team’s first-round pick in 2017, has been the team’s middle linebacker the past two seasons and was expected to hold down that role again in 2019. While the Lions did not name team captains yet for 2019, Davis was a captain last season.
He has started all 30 games he has played in for Detroit, making 196 tackles with eight sacks, eight passes defended and two fumble recoveries. With the Lions releasing safety Glover Quin in the offseason, Davis was often looked to as the main communicator and heart of the team’s defense this fall.
With Davis out, a combination of rookie Jahlani Tavai and veteran Jalen Reeves-Maybin took his place in the lineup.