Patriots bring back safety and key special teams player Cody Davis

Image courtesy of Pats Pulpit

The Patriots have re-signed another member of their special teams unit on Saturday. New England brought back safety Cody Davis on a one-year pact, per former Patriots safety Devin McCourty.

Davis has been one of the top special teams performers for New England since arriving to Foxboro in 2020. He has recorded 21 special teams tackles over the last two years.

The 33-year was limited to six games last year before he went down with a season-ending knee injury. Davis was considered one of the glue players on the Patriots special teams unit. Head coach Bill Belichick said back in October losing a player like Davis, it took five different players to replace what he did.

Cody Davis @CodyDavis

Excited and thankful for another opportunity with the @Patriots! Couldn't have done it without God & family pulling me through the trials I've faced through this rehab journey. Still a long way to go but giving my all on and off the field to make this year special.

New England Patriots @Patriots

Report: Patriots to retain safety Cody Davis: https://t.co/ap4epzsk9q

“What happens with a player like Cody, you lose that player on five different units,” Belichick said to reporters including Mark Daniels in October. “So each unit has its own dynamics. Each unit has its own responsibilities that come with what he does. I don’t think - no team has a player that can replace a player like that. So it would have to be some type of multiples. Nobody can just plug in a guy and get out of Cody Davis what he has given us.

“Cody’s going to be a player that’s really impossible to replace one-for-one. It’s going to have to be some type of maneuvering and shuffling to be able to handle the responsibilities that he’s done for us.”

• NFL Free Agency: Patriots to sign tight end Mike Geisicki

New England has been beefing up their special teams unit in free agency. The team signed Chris Board to a two-year deal on Friday. Belichick has had high praise for Board in the past, including leading up to the Patriots and Lions Week 5 matchup.

“Board, that’s the best special teams player we’ll play against all year,” Belichick said. “He’s great. A great player.”

The addition of Board coupled with the return of Davis and Matthew Slater will provide tremendous leadership and depth on special teams.

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