As the New England Patriots prepare to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, veteran cornerback Carlton Davis' health has been a concern. Davis exited Sunday's win over the Houston Texans with a head injury, giving the Patriots another CB-related concussion scare after Christian Gonzalez had to clear protocol last week.
On Wednesday, head coach Mike Vrabel shared a mixed update on Davis' situation, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Although Vrabel confirmed that the 29-year-old CB is in the NFL's concussion protocol, the Patriots bench boss revealed that Davis is already back at practice, albeit in a limited capacity.
Davis being in concussion protocol isn't ideal, but practicing implies he's advancing through the steps required to return to play. And while that's great news for Davis and New England's secondary, it's bad news for Charles Woods' hopes for a bigger role this weekend.
Patriots Likely Leaving Charles Woods on Backburner as Carlton Davis' Health Improves
After Davis was knocked out of the Divisional Round win, fellow CB Charles Woods came in to fill his void, making him the natural next man up if the former was forced to miss time. The Patriots claimed the undrafted ex-SMU defender off waivers in August after a forgettable year with the Los Angeles Rams, leaving time to tell if a change in scenery could help turn his career around.
Even though Woods went on to make 15 regular-season appearances, he was sparingly used in the secondary, playing only 117 snaps (7.8 per game) compared to 171 on special teams (11.4). That resulted in just 10 solo tackles and one broken-up pass before adding another two solo efforts in the postseason.
While it would've been nice to see Woods get a big opportunity this weekend, his inexperience in defensive situations could've made him a huge liability against the Broncos — even if they're without No. 1 quarterback Bo Nix. After all, Woods' coverage can be hit or miss. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed eight completions on 12 targets for 98 yards (12.3 per reception, 48 yards after the catch) and opposing QBs had a 91.7 passer rating in 112 snaps in coverage between the 2025 regular season and playoffs.
The last thing that New England needs is to put Woods in a situation he can't handle, especially when a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line. Broncos wideouts Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin can be menaces on the outside, no matter who's throwing them the ball. The pair combined for 139 catches, 1,726 yards, and 13 touchdowns this season, so things could get ugly quickly if there were an obvious mismatch.
Davis hasn't been perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but his experience of winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes him someone the Patriots need on the field this weekend. That isn't to say that Woods can't play a big role in the secondary one day, even next season, but it's clear that putting the spotlight on him with the season on the line is a risk that should be avoided if possible.
And if Davis' health keeps trending in the right direction as the week continues, it's a risk the Patriots won't even have to consider for much longer.