Training camp often comes with the same trope recited by players far and wide: I'm in the best shape of my life.
Sometimes, it's true. In the case of Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, it's indisputable.
Davis arrived to Eagles camp looking remarkably svelte, showing up 26 pounds lighter and looking relatively chiseled. It was a change made with endurance in mind and like many who have dropped double-digit pounds, he's already enjoying the benefits.
"Living better, more energy, greater focus, conditioning-wise on the field, I feel like it takes me longer to really get tired or to really feel that sun and everything," Davis said Thursday. "It's just kind of getting back into the swing of things and also adapting to my new body at this new weight. Just kind of feeling it out on the field."
It is fair to wonder whether a lighter Davis might be less effective. As a mountainous interior defensive lineman, his duties include plugging gaps and taking on multiple blockers with the goal of stonewalling inside run opportunities.
With 26 less pounds on him, that job might become more difficult, at least in theory. Davis addressed those concerns confidently Thursday, adding he believes his improved body composition should help him play a bigger role for the Eagles in 2025.
"That's not saying that everything is completely different. I'm still the same Jordan Davis," he said. "I'm still gonna be that anchor, I'm still gonna be that same player. But knowing that with this new weight I can do a lot more, I can move a lot more, like on passing reps, like I'm gonna be expected to add to that. That's what's been communicated to me from the top down, and honestly I'm here for it. I'm ready for it. I'm just ready to go."
Those who are worried about Davis' transformation are likely forgetting he entered the NFL as a rare specimen. Davis proved himself as a freak athlete when he ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at 341 pounds at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, instantly vaulting his name into first-round consideration.
Still, his weight loss will inspire watercooler discussions driven by fans who fancy themselves as kinetics experts, beginning with the declaration of a basic principle adopted by the average athlete with weight lifting experience: Those who weigh more can typically lift more. The bigger the number, the greater the raw power.
But power doesn't solely come from throwing around a bunch of weight. Football is a sport heavily dependent upon leverage. As the saying goes, low man wins.
With less mass for opponents to contend with, Davis knows he'll need to be technically sound, even if he feels just as strong as before.
"I would say the power never left," Davis said. "If anything, I felt like I got stronger over the offseason. That was a big emphasis."
Davis has an entire training camp and preseason to hone the technical aspect of his game. He'll have plenty of energy to spend on it thanks to his offseason transformation.
