The Pittsburgh Steelers have released defensive tackle Domenique Davis from their practice squad, the team announced on Friday.
Davis, 28, signed with the team on Nov. 5 and had not been elevated for a game. He was signed after the injury to starting nose tackle Montravius Adams, but Adams appears set to return from his injury. Adams was a full participant in practice on Thursday.
The Steelers released Davis to make room to re-sign running back Jonathan Ward. Ward had been released from the 53-man roster on Wednesday to make room for the return of cornerback Cory Trice Jr. from the injured reserve list. Ward cleared waivers on Thursday.
Before signing with the Steelers, Davis had most recently been with the Cincinnati Bengals, who released him on Oct. 22. Davis had been with the Bengals since 2022, but only played in two games with the team in that time, recording three career tackles. Davis has played both nose tackle and three-technique defensive tackle in his time in the NFL.
A 6-foot-2, 326-pound native of Laurinburg, North Carolina, Davis played collegiately at Division II UNC-Pembroke.
He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and was signed by the New York Jets, but was released with a failed physical designation later that summer. Two years later, Davis resurrected his career with the Houston Gambles of the USFL. He played in 1o games with the Gamblers in the spring of 2022, recording 24 tackles and four sacks.
Davis turned that USFL experience into a contract with the Bengals. He was released coming out of training camp, but was re-signed to the practice squad, and made his NFL debut, replacing an injured D.J. Reader as a call-up.
After playing two games in 2022, Davis re-signed with the Bengals for 2023, was again released after training camp and signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster last Dec. 22, after another injury to Reader, but did not play in any games.
He one again re-signed with Cincinnati for 2024, was released after training camp, and signed to the Bengals practice squad, but Cincinnati cut him from their practice squad on Oct. 22.
Until Adams returns, the Steelers only have five defensive linemen on the active roster with DeMarvin Leal out for the season with a neck injury. Rookie Logan Lee is also on the IR. Defensive tackle Jacob Slade and nose tackle Breiden Fehoko are on the practice squad.