The Pittsburgh Steelers had a meeting with veteran wide receiver Gabe Davis on Thursday. This team has a glaring need for wide receiver depth (and a potential WR2) since trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys roughly a month ago, so many expected Davis to sign with the team. However, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Chris Halicke of DK Pittsburgh Sports reported on Thursday that Davis is expected to leave the facility without a contract. This might have some fans wondering why, but the answer is simple: Davis has a major medical red flag that teams aren't comfortable with.
In November of the 2024 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars receiver suffered a Grade 1 meniscus tear that caused him to miss the final six games of the season. The Jags later traded up with the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft to land wide receiver Travis Hunter. Less than two weeks later, Jacksonville released Davis.
Medical red flags may keep the Pittsburgh Steelers from signing free agent WR Gabe Davis
This all came despite Davis earning a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jaguars during the 2024 offseason after an impressive four-year stint with the Bills on his rookie contract. But instead of riding it out with Davis, Jacksonville will pay him $11.5 million not to be on the team this year. This was reportedly due to a failed physical. That's telling.
If that wasn't enough evidence that Davis' knee rehab isn't where it needs to be, the veteran receiver had visits with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants but left both teams without a contract. Not it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers will do the same.
There are questions as to whether Davis would have been an upgrade over what the Steelers already have at the position. The big wide receiver is coming off a career-worst season with the Jaguars in 2024, where he combined for just 239 receiving yards and two touchdowns while catching 47.6 percent of passes thrown his way for a 40.5 percent success rate and 5.7 yards per target.
If he could get back to full speed, it's easy to think that Davis should land back on his feet with an NFL team. However, the fact that he's leaving a wide receiver-needy Pittsburgh Steelers team without a contract tells you everything you need to know about his medicals right now. There's a reason Gabe Davis is still on the market.