Surgery is on tap as a result, and that procedure will dictate the length of Davis’s absence. A trim would entail a multi-week recovery and likely a stint on injured reserve, but it could leave the door open to a return late in the campaign. A full repair would, on the other hand, shut Davis down for the rest of the season.
Of course, with Jacksonville sitting at 2-9 on the year, there is little reason to rush the 25-year-old back onto the field. A full repair carries a better long-term outlook, and Davis’s attention will no doubt be focused primarily on 2025, with a playoff berth out of reach for this season. The former Bill signed a three-year, $39M deal in free agency, so being fully healthy by Week 1 of next year will be a priority for the team and player.
Davis was set to play a key role in Jacksonville’s new-look receiving corps in 2024 after the team lost Calvin Ridley on the open market. Davis has logged a 72 percent snap share during his debut campaign in Duval County, but it has not yielded a consistent role in the passing game. The former fourth-rounder has received three or fewer targets four times this year, amassing 239 yards and a pair of scores on 20 receptions.
Those totals have yielded a yards per catch average of 12.0, the lowest of Davis’s career. Having been brought in to serve as a deep threat, the UCF product has seen first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. succeed in that capacity. Thomas has posted a 42-689-5 stat line this season, cementing his status as a key member of the team’s offense now and for years to come.
Christian Kirk — who was the subject of considerable trade talk in general and negotiations involving the Steelers in particular — is under contract for next year.
Most of Davis’s compensation for 2025 ($12.5M) is guaranteed, so he is set to remain in Jacksonville for at least one more season. Week 1 of that campaign may represent the next time he is available to the team, which is already the case for Kirk, given his broken collarbone. For the time being, Thomas will be positioned to handle a heavy workload atop the WR depth chart after the Jags’ bye week.
