NASHVILLE – As Corey Davis dealt with a troublesome toe injury during the 2019 season, he didn't complain.
The Titans receiver put on his cleats and suited up each Sunday, and he went out and gave it his all.
"Players always have something they're battling with," Davis said. "Rarely are people ever 100 percent in this game."
The no-excuses mindset is something Davis has displayed since arriving in the NFL in 2017, and it's why his coaches and teammates respect him so much.
Davis, who is headed into the final year of his rookie contract, has plenty on his mind as he heads into the 2020 season. He wants to take his game to another level, as a receiver and a blocker. He wants to be accountable to his teammates, and his willingness to lay his body on the line as a blocker in the open field leaves no doubt that he's all-in.
This offseason, when the Titans passed on the opportunity to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for 2021, Davis didn't spend any time sulking. And when he looks ahead to this fall, his mission is to earn whatever comes his way by doing exactly what he's done to this point.
He isn't worried about his contract.
"Some things you've just got to put in God's hands and go out there and play fast and control what you can control," he said. "I just leave the rest up to God and give it everything you've got and that's what I'm planning on doing this year. I'm not really focusing on the contracts, nothing. I'm just going to go out there and play football and handle my business, and everything will take care of itself.
"This year I feel good and I'm ready to go. Like I said, I feel great. Ready to get back out there with the boys."
Davis, the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, caught 43 passes for 601 yards and two touchdowns last season. He also had six catches fr 68 yards in the team's three playoff contests, including a touchdown catch on a Derrick Henry jump-pass against the Ravens.
In his first three NFL seasons, Davis has 142 catches for 1,867 yards and six touchdowns.
A year ago, as rookie receiver A.J. Brown took center stage in the team's receiving corps with a 1,000-yard season, Davis continued to do the dirty work, contributing with some tough catches, and blocking in the run game.
Earlier this offseason, Davis had surgery on the toe that bothered him during the 2019 season. During the season, Davis never let on he was dealing with the injury, because he knew mentally it wouldn't keep him from playing. But word surfaced about the injury when teammate Taylor Lewan spoke about Davis and his toughness during his Bussin' With the Boys podcast this offseason.
Davis started this year's training camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list, but he was taken off earlier this week and began practicing. He's looked good in the two training camps since.
Looking ahead to this fall, Davis, his toe now healthy, is ready to put his best foot forward. And fortunately for him, that's both of them.
More than anything, he wants to help the Titans keep playing meaningful football in January – and into February. But he knows it's going to take plenty of work to get there again.
"I just want to go out there and compete and play ball the way that I know I can," Davis said. "There's been a lot of adversity and a lot of things (I've dealt with), but as long as I go out there and be me, and don't put any extra pressure on myself, we'll be fine.
"Now I'm just focused on me, and this team. I'm obviously still a Titan for another year. Got a lot to improve on, so I'm just focusing on getting better and doing what I can to help this team out. (Now that I've) got this toe thing figured out, I'm able to just move forward and focus on perfecting my craft and helping this team take it to the next level."
Titans Online looks back at wide receiver Corey Davis' 2019 season (Photos: Donald Page)