In A.Q. Shipley's film room breakdown of the Josh Sweat strip sack against the Panthers, the Cardinals' radio analyst highlighted the pick set by linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither which allowed Sweat to get free.

"(Davis-Gaither) pulled the center and now the center is stuck and can't get back," Shipley said. "Free hitter up the middle. Watch out."

On the stat sheet, Davis-Gaither won't receive any credit for Zaven Collins' touchdown on the ensuing fumble recovery. However, it's a play that showcases ADG's versatility, a trait the coaching staff had hoped to tap into once they acquired the inside linebacker during free agency.

"It's kind of like a hidden gem," Davis-Gaither said.

Since entering the league in 2020, Davis-Gaither played for the Bengals. With linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt in the building, defensive snaps were limited for Davis-Gaither. In 2023, Davis-Gaither played a career-low 6.7 percent of defensive snaps according to TruMedia. That percentage increased to 37 in 2024 after Wilson's injury.

The seven starts was enough tape for the Cardinals to take a chance on a player that spent most of his career on special teams.

"He's a pro and he's a natural linebacker," defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said. "It's his first year in the defense but it doesn't feel like it and he picks it up right away, like right away, like one install and he's got it."

The journey for Davis-Gaither is similar to that of linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., who the Cardinals brought in last season. Both players arrived in the Valley with less than household names. Wilson, now a team captain, proved that a right situation and scheme could set a player up for success.

Like Wilson, Davis-Gaither played in multiple defensive positions in college. At Appalachian State, he was mostly an edge rusher. Because of the different ways Rallis utilizes his linebackers, Davis-Gaither was intrigued when evaluating his options during free agency.

"It's like a lot of what I did in college because I (played a lot off the edge) and played out on the perimeter a lot," Davis-Gaither said. "Before I signed, I looked at so many games and seeing what type of defenses I knew, and I knew that it was a great fit here."

Since Wilson slid into the Mike linebacker role, the Cardinals put Davis-Gaither in the Will linebacker spot that Wilson held last year. Through two games, Davis-Gaither has shown up in 14 different locations for Rallis, including four snaps at safety and snaps at one-, three-, six-, and nine-technique positions.

"He's got a feel to stack behind those tackles and find the football," Rallis said. "He's been doing a really good job."

Against the Panthers, Davis-Gaither had five tackles and recorded a quarterback hit. The biggest play, not including the assist on Sweat's forced fumble, was stuffing running back Rico Dowdle on a two-point conversion attempt.

"He's done a good job with his role, what we have asked, and he has a skill set that is unique," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "He's violent in the run game and he can cover, so that's pretty cool."

After he signed to the Cardinals, many chalked up the acquisition as a piece to help on special teams and less about his defensive involvement.

With more defensive snaps incoming, Davis-Gaither has a desire to not be a hidden gem by the end of the season.

"Especially since I'm new here and new in this scheme and on this defense and to be able to create trust that I can handle a bigger load on the defense," Davis-Gaither. "I just pride myself on improving each week, week-to-week, showing a little bit more than I did the previous week, and continuing to make plays when they come."

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE

The Cardinals re-signed defensive lineman Kyon Barrs to the practice squad on Thursday. He replaces defensive lineman Elijah Simmons, who signed to the Buccaneers 53-man roster on Wednesday.