Emmanuel Sanders has been crisscrossing the country visiting teams this week, but the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver might not get the kind of contract he covets because of medical concerns, a source told ESPN.com.
Sanders has a screw in each foot, stemming from injuries he sustained in the Super Bowl following the 2010 season, and teams might be leery of signing the four-year veteran to a long-term deal.
Sanders is believed to be seeking a contract in the range of what former Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate snagged from the Lions earlier this week. Detroit signed Tate to a five-year, $31.5 million deal with $13.25 million guaranteed.
Sanders visited the Jaguars and Buccaneers earlier this week. He met with the Chiefs in Kansas City on Friday, and the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder will visit the 49ers on Saturday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Steelers are open to the possibility of bringing back Sanders, but he might have to accept a shorter-term contract and less money than he is seeking to return to Pittsburgh or sign with another team.
Sanders' agent, Steve Weinberg, did not return several phone calls from ESPN.com.
Sanders has played every game each of the past two seasons after missing eight games in his first two NFL seasons.
ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell said a player might be healthy enough to play but also have some potential medical issues that make teams wary of signing him to a long-term contract. Bell said every team is different in how it assesses medical risks when signing players.
Offensive tackle Rodger Saffold, as an example, signed with the Raiders on Wednesday, but Oakland nixed the deal because of a failed physical. The Rams quickly re-signed Saffold to a five-year, $31.7 million contract with $19.5 million guaranteed.
Sanders is coming off a season in which he started for the first time on a regular basis and established career bests in receptions (67), receiving yards (740) and touchdown catches (six). He also averaged 26.8 yards as a situational kickoff returner.
The Steelers nearly lost Sanders last year when the Patriots signed the restricted free agent to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. The Steelers matched the offer instead of letting Sanders walk and taking a third-round pick in this year's draft as compensation.
Sanders, who turns 27 on Monday, became an unrestricted free agent March 11. He has received, as expected, his share of interest from teams with a need at wide receiver.
Sanders has 161 career catches with 2,030 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Markus Wheaton, the Steelers' third-round pick last year, is expected to get the first crack at Sanders' starting job if he doesn't return to Pittsburgh.