Akeem Davis-Gaither didn't need to play a single down for the Indianapolis Colts in preseason Week 1 against the New England Patriots to show how much the team likes him. The inside linebacker didn't appear to be injured. Instead, the team simply held him out of the game.
In other words, nothing should tell the player and fans more than Davis-Gaither, a free agent signee this offseason, is going to get a lot of reps in real games. He could even be assumed to be one of the two starters at the position. That he didn't play against the Pats means the team didn't want to risk him getting injured, meaning the team wants him to be healthy for real games.
Davis-Gaither has somewhat of an advantage over his fellow Colts off-ball linebackers because he has played under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo before. From 2020 through 2024, the linebacker played with the Cincinnati Bengals, starting 11 games but being involved in 71, and Anarumo was the DC during those years.
Indianapolis Colts holding Akeem Davis-Gaither out of preseason Week 1 speaks volumes
Therefore, Davis-Gaither knows Anarumo's scheme as well as any other member of the Indianapolis organization. Preseason is less meaningful to him because of that. Plus, Indy showed last year by signing so many former Bengals defensive players that the team is willing to hold on to players Anarumo has previously coached.
In 2024, Anarumo's last season in Cincy, Davis-Gaither had seven starts, was in on 82 tackles, had four tackles for loss, and an interception. He didn't pressure the quarterback much (he has just half a sack in six seasons), but that isn't necessary from an inside linebacker in Anarumo's scheme.
What is required is for the middle linebackers to tackle well and help stop the run. In those areas, Davis-Gaither excels. In the last four seasons, other than 2024, his missed tackle percentage is 6.1 or less. That is excellent.
The veteran's partner in the off-ball LB duo is most likely going to be a rookie, and that player will probably be CJ Allen, assuming he stays healthy enough to play. Allen has struggled with a hamstring injury the last week of training camp, and he didn't play against the Patriots because of it.
All rookies need lots of reps to immediately adapt to the speed and power of the NFL. The team hopes Allen can adjust quickly, even with his injury, but having the senior Davis-Gaither next to him is only going to help because Davis-Gaither knows the scheme so well.
Akeem Davis-Gaither being held out of preseason Week 1 implies the Indianapolis Colts are looking for him to be a starter. The hope now is that he is better in pass coverage than Indy's linebackers have been in recent seasons.
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