Anthony Davis Reinstated to 49ers Roster: Latest Details and Reaction

After seemingly losing their entire starting roster to retirement last year, the San Francisco 49ers got good news Saturday when star offensive tackle Anthony Davis was reinstated to the team.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the news and added that Davis is now free to practice with the team.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Davis' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, believes his client and the 49ers have "patched things up" and that they will move forward together despite Davis previously making some inflammatory comments regarding the organization on Twitter:

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I'm confident that Anthony is ready to go to work with the 49ers and resume his career with them, and I believe the 49ers will welcome him back. It's hard for me to speak for them but the impression I have is that, from all my discussions with them, that they would be excited to get Anthony back and that Anthony would be happy to work with them again. So hopefully he can pick up where he left off and continue his outstanding career before he retired last year.

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Along with linebacker Chris Borland, Davis was one of two 49ers players aged 25 or younger who surprisingly decided to step away from the game last season. 

Davis' retirement, though, did come with a caveat. The 26-year-old said in a statement, released by ESPN's Adam Schefter on his official Facebook page, that he needed to take a brief sabbatical to heal his body:

Davis continued to suggest a return was imminent, notably with this comment on Twitter:

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Guaranteed. https://t.co/z1Fh89u3Yh

— Anthony Davis (@BamDavis_) January 4, 2016"

After starting all 16 games in each of his first four seasons, he missed nine games due to injuries. He also suffered his first career concussion during a Week 10 game against New Orleans, which he told Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News was terrifying.

"It's scary when your brain is not working how it's supposed to," Davis said, "and the culture of this league is, 'You're a big, tough guy.'"

As long as Davis believes he's physically and mentally up to the challenge of playing in the NFL again, this is a huge boost to San Francisco's offensive line.

According to Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus, the 49ers offensive line ranked 27th overall and 30th in run blocking last season.   

The right tackle spot, in particular, was a mess, with Eric Eager of Pro Football Focus labeling Erik Pears one of last offseason's worst free-agent signings midway through the year. 

"After struggling for the Bills in 2014," Eager wrote, "Pears was acquired to take over for the retired Anthony Davis this season. The exchange has been a disaster thus far, as Pears ranks 56th among tackles. He has surrendered six sacks, tied for second among OTs."

Davis' return provides a huge boost to new 49ers head coach Chip Kelly. He stabilizes a position of volatility for the team in addition to providing protection for San Francisco's quarterback and opening running lanes for Carlos Hyde. 

There are still many holes the 49ers have to fill if they're hoping for a postseason return in 2016, but Davis' presence back in the huddle gives them a light after the seemingly never-ending darkness of 2015 that engulfed the franchise.