By Ross Jackson
It’s uncharted territory for the New Orleans Saints to be without star linebacker Demario Davis, that is the situation they will navigate on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Davis is set to miss the first game of his 13-year career due to injury and thus only the second game he has missed since signing with the Saints in 2018. The previous absence was due to a COVID diagnosis keeping him out of a rough contest with the Miami Dolphins in 2021.
Now the Saints will have to figure out how to overcome a loss that they are not accustomed to. The team has circumvented the absences of defensive linemen and defensive backs in the past, but injuries at linebacker have been few and far between thanks to Davis and fellow linebacker Pete Werner’s durability.
The Saints made an investment on the second level this past offseason which will end up paying dividends this weekend in Atlanta. Among the few free agents the team signed, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was a highlight. The former Kansas City Chief and two-time Super Bowl champion is going to be charged with taking on a larger role against the Falcons.
“Pete (Werner) will slide over to Demario’s (Davis) spot,” Gay Jr. told local media on Friday. “And I’ll slide over to Pete’s spot.”
So the newly-signed linebacker will be on the field a ton in the team’s Week 4 matchup and he has declared that he ready for the additional workload.
Gay Jr. was a fantastic weakside coverage linebacker during his collegiate days at Mississippi State. He then transitioned to the strongside in the pros once drafted by Kansas City in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He also has experience in the middle of the defense as a solid communicator and high IQ player.
He and Werner will be tasked with picking up the roles that Davis and Werner have excelled since the tandem was paired following Werner’s selection in the 2021 NFL draft.
Both have the athleticism and sound tackling a team would want before matching up with a talented running back like the Falcons’ Bijan Robinson. But they can also drop back into coverage and play sideline-to-sideline, especially Gay Jr. and his tremendous speed at the position. The two will be put to the test. But for New Orleans, it could be an early glimpse at their safety tandem of the future.
Werner has always been extended through 2027. With that all settled, the Saints could focus on re-signing Gay Jr. after his one-year deal in New Orleans is set to expire. The two could be experienced in head coach Dennis Allen’s system and of great value by the time the 2024 season concludes. Now both linebackers have the chance to get an early opportunity to prove what they can bring to the field against a bitter division rival.
