The Falcons are moving on from veteran running back Mike Davis. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein confirmed (on Twitter) Jordan Schultz’s original report that Atlanta is releasing him.
Davis, 29, signed a two-year deal last offseason. That marked a homecoming for him, and the only multi-year contract the team handed out at the time. There was plenty of optimism for the journeyman to take on the starter’s role, given his impressive 2020 campaign in Carolina.
Filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey, Davis found success as the Panthers’ No. 1 back that year. He rushed for 642 yards and six touchdowns, adding 373 yards and another two scores in the passing game. He was expected to carry a large workload in Atlanta, but his performance was more in line with his career averages. The South Carolina alum totalled 762 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns, staring only eight of 17 games.
The reason for his reduced role, of course, was the emergence of Cordarrelle Patterson as the Falcons’ lead back. His production both on the ground and in the air – not to mention the lack of guaranteed money on the second year of Davis’ deal – opened the door to this move being made.
By releasing Davis, the Falcons will save $2.5MM in cap space. He will look to catch on with what could be his sixth different team in the NFL. Atlanta, meanwhile, will move forward with Patterson, free agent signing Damien Williams and fifth-round rookie Tyler Allgeier in their backfield.