Anthony Davis made it clear during his self-imposed sabbatical from the NFL that he was planning to come back, and it appears that will happen in 2016.
The 49ers tackle will apply for reinstatement and plans to play next season, ESPN reported Friday.
Davis released a statement last June saying he was going to "take a year or so away" from the game to give his "brain and body a chance to heal."
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The move caught the 49ers off guard less than two months before training camp, and it came on the heels of teammates Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retiring unexpectedly. In fact, the team said in a statement at the time that Davis had informed them he planned to retire.
The 26-year-old Davis started all 16 games in each of his first four seasons in the NFL before injuries (including a concussion) limited him to seven games in 2014. Erik Peers got most of the work at right tackle in his absence last season and didn't fare well, so the 49ers likely would welcome Davis back.
That seemed to be his intention all along, as his initial statement and subsequent social media posts indicated.
I'll be back in a year or so.. I'll be 26 or 27 years old. Im taking this time to allow my Brain and Body time to heal and recoup.
— Anthony Davis (@BamDavis_) June 5, 2015When I return I'll be the best RT in the league again. Hands Down. #KnowYourself
— AD (@BamDavis_) August 11, 2015
Oh, and in case you were wondering how Davis might get along with new 49ers coach Chip Kelly, he had this to say in response to that question on Twitter a couple of months back:
"I played for Greg Schiano and Jim Harbaugh, I can play for anyone."
