Latest news with #AkeemDavis-Gaither
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
3 Arizona Cardinals players who improved their stock in preseason loss to the Broncos
In a bad game against the Broncos, few impressed. The Arizona Cardinals lost their second preseason game Saturday night, a 27-7 defeat to the Denver Broncos in which they allowed 562 yards and only gained 135. They didn't play any of their starters expect for rookie cornerback Will Johnson and new linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. There weren't a lot of positives, but a few players helped their stock as we approach final cuts and the 53-man roster. Which players stood out? QB Jacoby Brissett Brissett doesn't have any worry about making the roster, as he has the backiup quarterback job locked up. However, he led the Cardinals to another touchdown, giving him three touchdown passes in five preseason possessions. They have come against opponent backups, but the ease with which he operates the offense and moved the ball down the field, there is confidence that the offense will be okay should Kyler Murray ever get hurt. WR Simi Fehoko Fehoko had his first preseason action, missing last week's game with a quad injury. He had two receptions for 21 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown reception. He also made a special teams tackle. He is a player most fans won't know, but the TV broadcast emphasized he is good on special teams. He showed enough to probably secure a spot on the roster, especially considering he ha almost all his salary guaranteed in 2025. K Chad Ryland He only had the one extra point and did not have a field-goal attempt, But before the game, he drilled a 72-yard field goal. There is no issue with his leg. That was about it. It was mostly players hurting themselves. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals play only 2 defensive starters in preseason game vs. Broncos
While most starters sat out, rookie CB Will Johnson and LB Akeem Davis-Gaither got some work in against the Broncos. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton revealed on Thursday, following the joint practice they had with the Arizona Cardinals, that neither team would play its starters in the preseason matchup on Saturday, "save for a few." The Cardinals held true to that. In the 27-7 loss to the Broncos, the Cardinals did not play a single offensive starter. On defense, though, they had two "starters" get action early in the game. Those two players were rookie cornerback Will Johnson, their second-round draft pick this year, and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Davis-Gaither was signed in free agency this offseason. Johnson and Davis both came out by the end of the first quarter. Davis-Gaither had a tackle in the game. Johnson also had a tackle and was flagged for defensive holding. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
27 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 27?
With 27 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 27. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals, and that is less than four weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 27 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 27? Cardinals players to wear No. 27 Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, signed this offseason to a two-year contract as a free agent, is No. 27. It is odd because linebackers rarely have numbers in the 20s. No. 27 has another number where there have been no great players. Allen, though, was pretty good. He had 14 interceptions in the three-year stretch from 1978-1980. Other than him, there have been a few okay starters, but nothing special. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about LB Akeem Davis-Gaither. The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. Next up is inside linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. Akeem Davis-Gaither background, 2024 season Davis-Gaither, from Appalachian State, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. The Cardinals signed him as an unrestricted free agent on March 14 this year. Mostly a special-teams player in Cincinnati where he became a captain, Davis-Gaither started only 11 games in his career, but seven came last season when he played a career-high 534 defensive snaps (47 percent). Davis-Gaither started the final six games of the season after Logan Wilson was injured and played 376 snaps in those games. For the season, he had 77 tackles (38 solo, four for loss), but 58 tackles and 31 solo stops came in those final six games where he had three double-digit tackle games (12, 12 and 13). Davis-Gaither also played 311 snaps (68 percent) on special teams in 2024 and his percentage of snaps there in the previous four seasons were 64, 61, 68 and 80. Last season, he had five special-teams tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery. On defense, he also had an interception, one forced fumble and four passes defensed. Akeem Davis-Gaither 2025 contract details, cap hit The two-year contract he signed with the Cardinals is worth $10 million with $5 million guaranteed, including a $$3 million signing bonus. His 2025 salary is $2 million guaranteed and the salary-cap charge is $3.8 million. 2025 questions, roster outlook Davis-Gaither has the inside track on the starting Mike linebacker job for the Cardinals, but he could receive a challenge from fourth-round pick Cody Simon. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL LB unit rankings: Arizona Cardinals near bottom of the league
PFF ranked all 32 teams' LB units. See where the Cardinals rank. The offseason of lists and rankings continues as we wait for training camps to begin. These rankings are from PFF, lining up the linebacker units for all 32 NFL teams. As this is one unit the Arizona Cardinals have questions in, you can imagine that they don't rank highly. NFL linebacker rankings: Arizona Cardinals Not only are the Cardinals not ranked highly, they come in near the bottom of the league at No. 29, with only three teams below them. The Cardinals have invested a plethora of resources in their defense this offseason, and the linebacker position is no exception. Former Bengal Akeem Davis-Gaither arrives after posting a 59.0 PFF overall grade in Cincinnati last season. He's projected to start alongside Mack Wilson Sr., who earned a 63.8 PFF overall grade in 2024. Veterans Owen Pappoe and Mykal Walker project as depth, along with fourth-round rookie Cody Simon, but this unit may struggle to hold things together behind what should be an improved defensive line. The Cardinals' linebackers don't inspire optimism outside of the building. Wilson became a starter last year after years of special teams and being a rotational player. Davis-Gaither has only 11 career starts, seven last season replacing Logan Wilson after he was injured. But Cardinals linebackers do put up numbers, and with a beefed up defensive line, maybe they don't need to be great. They just need to tackle effectively. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
