Patriots Get Encouraging Carlton Davis III News Before Jaguars Game

September 23, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

The Patriots received encouraging news on Carlton Davis III as the veteran cornerback works toward a return before the Jaguars game. GettyHead coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots may have his No. 2 cornerback back in action Sunday. Getty

The New Enhalnd Patriots suffered a disappointing Week 1 defeat to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but last Sunday the defending AFC champions appeared to get their season back on track.

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The Patriots cruised past the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium, 20-3 to even their record at 1-1 with the Jacksonville Jaguars up next and divisional rivalBuffalo Bills a week later.

Though the Patriots have been beset by an outbreak of injuries in the early going this season, on Wednesday they saw an encouraging sign from their No. 2 starting cornerback, who missed the Steelers game with an injury.

Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III returned to practice Wednesday, suiting up in pads days after a neck injury sidelined him against Pittsburgh.

Davis was dressed in a jersey and full pads as players headed out for Wednesday’s session, according to ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss. The Patriots have not yet declared him available for the Jaguars.

Patriots CB Carlton Davis III’s Neck Injury Timeline

GettyHead coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots may have his No. 2 cornerback back in action Sunday.

Davis made three tackles in the Week 1 loss at Seattle, then sat out every practice the following week. The team listed him as questionable on Friday before downgrading him to out Saturday, according to Boston.com Patriots writer Colin McCarthy.

It was his second setback since summer. He hurt his hamstring on July 28 and did not return, on a limited basis, until Aug. 10, according to CBS Sports.

Short absences have dotted his career. The FOX Sports injury log for Davis lists hip, groin, knee, toe and concussion issues dating to 2018. He has landed on injured reserve only twice, for a quad injury with Tampa Bay in 2021 and a broken jaw with Detroit in December 2024, according to his official Patriots.com biography.

A Miami native, Davis earned first-team All-America honors at Auburn in 2017. Tampa Bay drafted him in the second round, 63rd overall, in 2018, and he won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers. Detroit acquired him in a March 2024 trade for a third-round pick.

New England signed him in March 2025. The deal was first reported at three years and $60 million, with $34.5 million fully guaranteed, according to NFL.com writer Nick Shook. Once incentives were itemized, the value settled at $54 million, according to the Spotrac contract database. His 2026 cap hit is $22 million, and his $13 million base salary this season is fully guaranteed.

Davis started all 17 games in 2025, then picked off C.J. Stroud twice in the playoffs. He has 11 career interceptions in 107 games.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — 2026 SCHEDULEWKDateOpponentH/ATime / ResultTV / W-L1Wed, Sep 9@ Seattle SeahawksAwayL 13-100-12Sun, Sep 20Pittsburgh SteelersHomeW 20-31-13Sun, Sep 27@ Jacksonville JaguarsAway10:00 AMCBS4Sun, Oct 4@ Buffalo BillsAway10:00 AMCBS5Sun, Oct 11Las Vegas RaidersHome10:00 AMCBS6Sun, Oct 18New York JetsHome10:00 AMCBS7Thu, Oct 22@ Chicago BearsAway5:15 PMPrime Video8Sun, Nov 1@ Miami DolphinsAway1:25 PMCBS9Sun, Nov 8Green Bay PackersHome1:25 PMFOX10Sun, Nov 15Detroit Lions *Home6:30 AMFOXWK 11 — BYE WEEK12Sun, Nov 29@ Los Angeles ChargersAway5:20 PMNBC13Sun, Dec 6Buffalo BillsHome1:25 PMCBS14Thu, Dec 10Minnesota VikingsHome5:15 PMPrime Video15Mon, Dec 21@ Kansas City ChiefsAway5:15 PMESPN / ABC16Sun, Dec 27@ New York JetsAway10:00 AMCBS17TBD — Flex GameDenver BroncosHomeTBDTBD18TBD — Flex GameMiami DolphinsHomeTBDTBDAll times Eastern. Home games at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA. Bye in Week 11. Weeks 17 and 18 are flex games — dates and broadcasts TBD. * Week 10 game played at a neutral site.

How the Patriots Secondary Fared Without Davis

New England beat the Steelers 20-3 without Davis. Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes for 187 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, and was sacked four times, according to the ESPN box score.

Against man coverage, Pittsburgh went 9-of-19 for 47 yards on 21 dropbacks, with an interception and two sacks, according to Patriots.com analyst Evan Lazar.

“That’s without starting CB Carlton Davis III,” Lazar was quick to point out.

Charles Woods played 60 of 70 defensive snaps in his place, according to Patriots on SI
. Lazar charted Woods for four catches allowed for 24 yards. Christian Gonzalez shadowed DK Metcalf and gave up one catch to him on seven targets.

But safeties Craig Woodson and Dell Pettus went down with injuries against Pittsburgh.

“We had a lot of injuries,” head coach Mike Vrabel said, as quoted by Hurwitz. “We have to get healthy and figure out who’s available next week for a huge challenge.”

Davis is one of those answers. His return would restore the Gonzalez-Davis pairing on the outside, send Marcus Jones back to the slot after he played 69 of 70 snaps Sunday, and move Woods back down the depth chart.