Carlton Davis simply got the wind knocked out of him.

Davis left the Detroit Lions’ 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday on the second-to-last play of regulation after dropping an interception that might have kept the game from going to overtime at Ford Field.

Davis stayed hunched on the ground for about a minute and was tended to by trainers before walking off the field under his own power.

“Shoulda caught the ball,” Davis said after the game. “It hit my stomach and knocked the wind out of me.”

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. replaced him and played the final snap of regulation, when Aidan Hutchinson sacked Matthew Stafford, and the Lions won the overtime coin toss and scored a touchdown to end the game.

Davis would have been able to return had the Lions needed him on defense, and indicated he’ll be fine for next Sunday’s game against his old team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

TRENDING: Sure, there were problems, but Lions showed off special traits in win over Rams

An offseason trade acquisition, Davis made 10 tackles in his Lions debut but said he and the Lions’ new-look secondary need to be more opportunistic going forward. He dropped a would-be interception on an overthrown Stafford pass with 11 seconds to play. Had Davis held onto the ball, the Lions would have taken possession near midfield with one timeout.

Safety Brian Branch also dropped an interception, and the Lions allowed Stafford to complete 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards on a day he played behind a severely shorthanded offensive line, and lost Pro Bowl receiver Puka Nacua to injury.

“I thought we played good as a secondary for sure,” Davis said. “Like I said, we want to be perfect, we want to be the best in the league so we’ve got to be better and be more opportunistic, especially with the ball. We just had too many dropped picks. But overall we kept the score down, 20, we just got to get better, work on the little things. First game out, we’re still building on chemistry in the back end but it’s coming together.”

GAME BALLS: David Montgomery bulls to victory; Matthew Stafford sharp for LA

Slip and slide at Ford Field

Several Lions players had issues with their footing Sunday, slipping at times on the Ford Field turf.

Jahmyr Gibbs stumbled as he ran open in the Rams’ secondary with just over a minute to play, causing Jared Goff to sail a would-be touchdown over his head. Amon-Ra St. Brown slipped on an in-breaking route later in the same drive, and Kalif Raymond lost his footing on a third-down incompletion before the Lions settled for the game-tying field goal.

Lions running back David Montgomery said he slipped on multiple occasions Sunday, but said it wasn’t an issue with the Ford Field turf.

“I definitely was slipping,” he said. “Got to get my feet under me, play more on my toes. That can’t be an excuse to why I slip. I just got to be sure I get my feet under me and I’ll do that.”

Wide receiver Jameson Williams said he thought some of the issue was the Lions playing on turf for one of the first times this preseason.

“I wouldn’t say it was slippery,” he said. “But it’s first game being on turf for a lot of us. Some of us didn’t play in the preseason so we just like getting back to the turf feel. We practice on grass a lot so that may be a thing. I’m not really sure about the turf. I think it was OK. I don’t really know. I didn’t slip.”

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Preorder it now from Reedy Press.

Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

The west side’s spiffy Davidson Park and downtown’s expanded, modernized Baird Center are two of the new attractions for Doors Open Milwaukee Sept. 28-29.

The annual event gives architecture lovers chances to explore more than 140 locations around the city, including some that rarely welcome behind-the-scenes visitors or tours. Doors Open is organized and presented by nonprofit organization Historic Milwaukee.

Here’s a look at details you might want to know before planning a 2024 Doors Open excursion.

When is Doors Open Milwaukee 2024?

Basic hours for Doors Open Milwaukee are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 28) and Sunday (Sept. 29). But there are many variations. Each site sets its own hours. For example, Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, 1570 S. 9th St., is only open for Doors Open visitors from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. Check details for each site at historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open/buildings.

Is Doors Open in Milwaukee free?

Most events are free, But there are some ticketed tours. Check the Doors Open site at historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open for info on free spots, tour tickets and requirements.

What are some new sites for Doors Open 2024?

New sites for Doors Open 2024 include:

• Davidson Park, 3725 W. Juneau Ave., a 4.8-acre public park at Harley-Davidson’s corporate headquarters that just opened in June. Its features include a nifty sunken amphitheater with tiered seating.
• Baird Center North Building, 405 W. Kilbourn Ave. Self-guided tours of the newly expanded and updated convention and exhibition center, which opened in May. (This site will be open only on Saturday, Sept. 28.)
• Bronzeville Center for the Arts, 507 W. North Ave. A new hub for African American arts. (This site will be open only on Saturday, Sept. 28.)
• WUWM Milwaukee in the Chase Building, 111 E. Wisconsin Ave. Home of the National Public Radio station 89.7 FM.

What are a few other cool buildings to visit during Doors Open 2024?

Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra converted this Art Deco movie palace into its performing home.

Carma Laboratories, 9750 S. Franklin Drive, Franklin. Yes, you can visit the Carmex lip balm warehouse, which is also home to what organizers call “the world’s largest theater pipe organ.” Music will be playing. This event is Saturday, Sept. 28 only.

Browse a complete list of Doors Open participating buildings and sites at historicmilwaukee.org.

What tours are available during Doors Open Milwaukee 2024?

Find a complete list of paid-ticket tours and free municipal tours at historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open/tours. Public ticket sales for ticketed tours begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 11. These tours can and do sell out, so act quickly. A few of this year’s venues: City Hall Bell Tower (free), Jones Island (free), Beyond the Bars: Water Street ($10 for adults), Forest Home Bike Tour ($10 for adults), Milwaukee Terra Cotta Tour ($10 for adults).

What mobile app tours are available?

By downloading the Historic Milwaukee app from Apple or Google Play, visitors can explore Milwaukee neighborhoods on their own. New neighborhood tours include Lindsay Heights and Historic King Drive (available to download Sept. 28). They join more than a dozen extant mobile app tours, including Avenues West, Indigenous Milwaukee, Metcalfe Park and North Point Mansions South. For Doors Open mobile app info, visit historicmilwaukee.org.

How do I find out more about Doors Open Milwaukee 2024?

Visit historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open.