Commanders’ Jamin Davis quietly making a sophomore leap in 2022

The Washington Commanders defense doesn’t get much (if any) national recognition, but they’re developing into a daunting matchup for opposing offenses. The defensive line has received most of the plaudits for the in-season turnaround, and rightly so. As a result, though, Jamin Davis’ play has fallen under the radar.

The idea of Washington playing without Cole Holcomb was terrifying. Holcomb’s missed the last two games with a foot injury, forcing Davis into more responsibility, though Kam Curl assumed play-calling duties from Holcomb.

That’s not an indictment on Davis or the coaching staff, however. Last season, the staff miscalculated playing Davis in the middle linebacker role. Throwing him back into that position after Holcomb’s injury and after the strides he’s made as an off-ball linebacker would’ve been a fireable offense.

Davis experienced a turbulent start to Year 2, but last year’s first-round pick is quietly making a sophomore leap in 2022. Last season, you could count Davis’ impact plays on one hand. This year, however, he’s making at least on per week and Week 9 against the Vikings was no exception.

Jamin Davis is finally becoming a player for the Commanders.

As ESPN’s John Keim notes in his tweet, Davis still has a long way to go to justify Washington’s decision to draft him No. 19 overall. Some might still argue trading up for a quarterback (Justin Fields looks pretty good), or beefing up the secondary or offensive line, but Davis is steadily developing into a quality linebacker.

Was Week 9 the best game of Davis’ young career? It certainly felt like based on the eye test. The Kentucky product’s 74.9 player grade from Pro Football Focus was third on Washington behind Montez Sweat, Curtis Samuel and Jon Allen. Davis was credited with four tackles, four pressures, and got his hand on two passes.

This comes after Davis came up huge vs the Colts in Weekk 8.

It didn’t seem like it at the time, but Davis’ third down goal line stop on Jonathan Taylor in the fourth quarter saved the game for Washington. If not for Davis (and Kam Curl’s stand on Michael Pittman Jr.), Taylor Heinicke and Terry McLaurin probably aren’t in a position to play hero in the waning moments.

Davis is ever-improving against the run and already a weapon as a blitzing linebacker; that ability was on full display vs the Vikings. Fans will also recall Davis walloping 6-foot-5, 248-pound Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Davis is a heat-seeking missile in open space, which makes the fact he wasn’t played off the ball as a rookie all the more maddening, but let’s focus on the positives!

Nobody’s labeling Davis a stud just yet, but he if he continues on this trajectory, he’ll become a more-than-serviceable linebacker as early as 2023. By then, we should start seeing these splash and plays on a more consistent basis.