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IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams made a series of high-profile defensive acquisitions during the offseason. Defensive end Ryan Davis was not one of them.
Davis signed a one-year contract two days before training camp started, an addition that could prove to be just as significant as signing defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and trading for cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
“I was on my way to Detroit, actually, for a workout, and Arizona called,” Davis said. “And then as soon as LA called, I told my agent: ‘Come on, we gotta go. We got to make this happen.'”
Davis’ intuition was right on, and he has found himself working extensively with the starting defense as an outside linebacker during the first three weeks of training camp. Coach Sean McVay has frequently identified Davis as one of the early standouts, though the praise apparently has not filtered down to the seven-season veteran who last played for Buffalo.
“I’m not looking for any kind of cheers or pat on the back from the coaches, but if they are fans of me, then obviously that’s a good thing,” Davis said. “My thing is going out there and not letting the guys down next to me. Just giving it my best and playing hard.”
The quick transition Davis has made at outside linebacker is all the more important because the Rams must replace both starters there after trading Robert Quinn to Miami in March and not re-signing free agent Connor Barwin.
