Tyler Davis is the forgotten man in Green Bay’s tight end room

Tyler Davis is the forgotten man among the Green Bay Packers’ tight ends, partly because of his season-ending knee injury in last year’s preseason opener. The Packers also return three second-year tight ends, all of whom had impressive rookie campaigns and should continue to improve as they enter their sophomore seasons.

However, no one should underestimate the impact Davis can have this season. One of the team’s weakest areas last season was the bottom of the tight end depth chart after Luke Musgrave missed five games with a lacerated kidney he suffered in the Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Green Bay has received subpar results from others who have tried to fill in for him, including undrafted free agent Henry Pearson, a hybrid FB/TE, and former third-round pick Josiah Deguara, who is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville drafted Tyler Davis out of Georgia Tech in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, and the Packers signed him off waivers shortly after the start of the 2021 season. However, Davis has failed to find a significant role on offense beyond the 1-2 duo of Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan. He still had four receptions on five targets for 35 yards in 14 games. Last year, Davis’ receiving numbers were nearly identical to his 2021 numbers: four receptions on seven targets for 26 yards and a fumble.

Davis was far from a team leader in any category, but he was able to stay on the field. He played every game after joining the Packers until his unfortunate knee injury in the preseason in 2023. Given the lack of depth last season after Luke Musgrave’s injury and Tucker Kraft’s absence from all OTAs and minicamp due to a torn pectoral, the Packers need a reliable option outside of Ben Sims. Davis totaled 121 and 174 offensive snaps in 2021 and 2022, respectively — not bad for a team’s fourth option. His familiarity with Green Bay’s playbook and scheme makes him an instant option to take on a larger offensive role at any time.

Davis made his mark on this team by playing a key role on special teams. He logged significant snaps on all five special teams units during Davis’ first two seasons with the Green and Gold. During the 2021 season, Davis played 232 special teams snaps, which accounted for 64% of the teams’ total snaps. That number increased significantly in 2022 when he played 344 special teams snaps, which accounted for 81% of the teams’ total snaps and ranked No. 1 overall on the team.

He was so crucial to the unit that special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said losing Davis would be a significant detriment to the unit’s success. “I feel like, to a certain extent, we lost our right hand, you know?”

Bisaccia mentioned that Davis is an exceptional special teams player because of his ability to play multiple positions. He has all the building blocks — body type, running ability and tackling ability (10+ tackles on teams in 2022) — of a successful special teams player. With the kickoff rules changing in 2024, having a trusted and reliable player on the field will be key to avoiding points and winning the field position battle.

While Green Bay’s top two tight ends, Kraft and Musgrave, are undoubtedly willing blockers, I don’t think anyone would mistake them for a modern-day Marcedes Lewis. So Green Bay doesn’t have a clear-cut blocking tight end. The Packers have long valued tight ends who can contribute as blockers and have traditionally always had a “blocking” tight end on their roster.

During Lewis’ five years in Green Bay, they often used him as a sixth offensive lineman and designed run packages to fit that formation. While Davis isn’t Lewis, he’s a more skilled and effective blocker than any of the other three tight ends currently on the roster. When the draft came and went without the Packers adding anyone significant to the room (besides undrafted Messiah Swinson), I figured that would be Davis’ role on the offense.

It’s no secret that Green Bay struggled in the running game last season when everyone except Aaron Jones carried the ball, mostly due to blocking up front and opening up lanes. Having someone like Davis back on the field in place of Deguara and Pearson as the primary H-back or inline as a tight end will only help.

Davis has the potential to be a valuable contributor for the Green Bay Packers in 2024. As a reliable blocker, special teams staple, and experienced player within this system, he’s a great asset for Matt LaFleur’s team. He’s also on a team-friendly contract, costing the Packers just over $1 million on the salary cap.

As he continues to develop and carve out a role for himself on the team, Packers fans should keep an eye on him as a surprising key player. If he can reach his full potential, his addition will give Green Bay one of the best tight end spots in the NFL, helping stabilize a fragile special teams unit. He could be the missing piece to an already dangerous offense.