Fred Davis Reinstated by NFL: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran tight end Fred Davis was reportedly reinstated by the NFL on Thursday and is now an unrestricted free agent after missing the entire 2014 season due to suspension.

ProFootballTalk broke the news:

Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed Davis' updated status:

Davis spent the first six seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins. He tallied 162 catches for over 2,000 yards (2,043) and 13 touchdowns in 72 games. He had just seven grabs for 70 yards in 10 games during the 2013 campaign, though.

Before he was suspended last year, he was set to hit the free-agent market. Dan Hanzus of NFL.com reported at the time that it was an indefinite ban for his second drug-related issue. Davis was also suspended during the 2011 season. Hanzus' report included comments from Davis that were in a release from the NFL Players Association:

"

I would like to clarify the circumstances that resulted in my current suspension. In the past, I made the mistake of knowingly ingesting a banned substance. For over two years, I've worked very hard to eliminate marijuana from my life, and I have not had a positive test for it since 2011. Unfortunately, a couple of months ago, I took a supplement that contained a banned substance.

"

Now, after more than a year on the suspended list, Davis is once again an active NFL player and can sign with any team.

The 29-year-old tight end had 128 catches and 12 touchdowns over a three-season span starting in 2009. However, his numbers dropped off over his last two seasons in Washington.

Between that and the suspension history, the amount of interest he'll generate on the open market is very much a mystery. There's no denying that Davis was once a talent capable of making a significant impact on the field; the only question now is whether that talent is still there.