New Orleans Saints star linebacker Demario Davis will miss his first game due to injury in his 13-year career.
The Pro Bowl linebacker will miss Sunday's game in Atlanta due to a hamstring issue, head coach Dennis Allen said Friday.
"We're not gonna put anybody out there that we feel like we're putting at risk of injuring themselves," Allen said. "Nobody, especially guys like that… We had to do that same thing with at one point in time. With all these things, you're always just looking at what's the proper thing to do, what's the right thing to do for the player and for the team. That's all that goes into any of those type of decisions."
Davis previously missed one other game in his career in 2021 due to COVID.
It's an incredible run for a player as violent and productive as Davis. The sideline-to-sideline demon has been the heart and soul of the Saints' defensive core for the past seven years, owning the ability to stuff the run, cover in space and unleash timely blitzes. Given his ferocious style, it's stunning that the 35-year-old hasn't previously missed a game. It speaks to his toughness and ability to play through bumps and bruises.
His absence will be weighty against the Falcons and Bijan Robinson on Sunday.