Former Viking Signs with 49ers
Dustin Baker
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The San Francisco 49ers have encountered a first-in-2023 bout with adversity recently, losing games to the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and Cincinnati Bengals since Week 6.
The 49ers lost Deebo Samuel to injury at the Browns, and he’s evidently the straw that stirs the drink.
Former Viking Signs with 49ers
And while San Francisco hopes to return its season to top-tier glory, general manager John Lynch added a former Vikings lineman to his practice squad this week — Jesse Davis.
Niners Nation tweeted Tuesday, “The 49ers released CB Anthony Brown. The team also announced it released CB Kendall Sheffield from the practiced squad and signed OL Jesse Davis to the practice squad.”
The 49ers offensive line ranks 24th leaguewide at the moment, according to Pro Football Focus, although most NFL fans just assume, for some reason, that the franchise has a wonderful front five. They do not, at least per credible metrics.
Long story short, the 49ers employ Trent Williams, who is otherworldly, but after him on the offensive line, the stardom ends. It’s not an elite group.
Davis was the right tackle for the Miami Dolphins in 2021, playing 92% of all offensive snaps. He was an undrafted free agent from the 2017 draft class from the University of Idaho, arriving in Miami and remaining for five seasons.
During his first two years in Miami, he played at right guard as the starter (2017 and 2018). From 2017 to 2021, Davis was on the field for at least 90% of the Dolphins offensive snaps each season.
The veteran lineman hasn’t played an offensive snap in the regular season since 2021.
Davis joined the Vikings via free agency in March 2022, a possible plan to help stop the longstanding OL woes in Minnesota. But he was only theoretical, at least per regular season contribution, as Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shipped Davis to the Pittsburgh Steelers three months later for a conditional 7th-Round pick.
The Steelers then used Davis in 14 games last season, all special teams snaps, a total of 58.
Davis embarked on free agency in 2023 but signed with no team. About eight months later, he’ll get a look from the 49ers on the practice squad, just an injury or promotion away from a gameday field.
This is Davis’ PFF resume since 2017:
- 2017 = 52.5
- 2018 = 59.2
- 2019 = 58.9
- 2020 = 62.6
- 2021 = 52.5
- 2022 = DNP on Offense
It is unclear if the 49ers plan to utilize Davis at tackle or guard; the man can play both positions.
The 49ers employ two other former Vikings: T.Y. McGill, a defensive tackle on the practice squad, and Klint Kubiak, the 49ers passing game coordinator.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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