The Steelers have already started to stir on offense, but the picture in Pittsburgh still isn’t clean. They finally got past the 30-point mark for the first time this season, yet the passing game still looks like it could use another jolt. That’s where Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has entered the conversation.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed five teams that could help Thomas bounce back, and Pittsburgh made the cut. Thomas arrived in the league as a first-round pick and immediately looked the part, racking up 1,282 yards as a rookie two years ago.
Since then, the production has slipped. His numbers were cut nearly in half last season, and this year has opened slowly with just seven catches for 88 yards through three games.
Knox sees a fit in Pittsburgh because the Steelers still need more from their passing attack, even with Aaron Rodgers under center. “Because of how fierce this AFC North race is shaping up to be, the Steelers can’t afford to rest on their laurels and must add more firepower,” Knox wrote.
He also tied the idea to Rodgers’ play and the possibility of giving him another dependable target. “Brian Thomas Jr. could be the best bang for Pittsburgh’s buck, providing them with a potential WR1 at a budget cost,” Knox wrote.
The Steelers have already made changes at receiver. They acquired Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and drafted Germie Bernard in the second round.
Roman Wilson currently leads the team with 11 catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. D.K.
Metcalf has 11 catches for 98 yards and one touchdown on 24 targets. Pittman has five catches for 74 yards in two games and missed Week 2 with a foot injury before returning Sunday and catching a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Thomas would give Pittsburgh another young receiver with first-round talent, and he’s still on his rookie contract. The problem is Jacksonville does not appear eager to move him. Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said in March, “You think back to where we landed at the end of the season, where our passing attack was, we have no interest in disrupting the momentum,” Gladstone told ESPN.
That stance could change if Thomas keeps struggling. If it does, Pittsburgh would probably have to pay a real price, with a second-round pick potentially in play as the November trade deadline gets closer. For now, the Steelers may simply wait to see what they have in Metcalf, Pittman, and Bernard before making another swing.
In Other News...
Jaguars Rookies Are Forcing A Real Week 4 Depth Chart Shift
Through the first three weeks, the Jaguars rookie class has already started to leave a real imprint on the roster picture. Some first-year players, including Wesley Williams and Jalen Huskey, are still waiting for their first action, but others have forced their way into the conversation with meaningful reps on offense, defense and special teams. Bryan Thomas Jr. and Josh Cameron have been among the more noticeable contributors, giving Jacksonville something to think about as the season settles in.
Head coach Liam Coen also had to address the health of rookie Albert Regis, which adds another layer to a depth chart that is clearly still moving. For a team trying to find the right mix in the early part of the year, the rookie class is no longer just developmental background noise. The bigger question now is how much those performances will continue to push established options out of the way as Week 4 approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have A Secondary Concern Before Bengals Showdown
A week after trying to settle into the rhythm of the season, Jacksonville suddenly has a secondary question hanging over its preparation for Cincinnati. The Jaguars Week 4 injury report shows three of their five cornerbacks were either injured or limited in practice, a reminder that a position group built on depth can get thin in a hurry when the practice report starts piling up.
Jarrian Jones was a full participant despite a hip issue, while Christian Braswell worked on a limited basis with a knee injury and Montaric Brown was also limited because of a hamstring problem. Jacksonville also had several other names on the report, including LeQuint Allen, DaVon Hamilton, Jakobi Meyers, Albert Regis and Cole Van Lanen, leaving the team with some moving parts to monitor as the Bengals game approaches and the coaching staff continues to sort out availability. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Have Something Big To Prove In The Top 10
The Jaguars have spent the early part of the 2026 season forcing their way into the conversation, and a decisive win over the New England Patriots only helped sharpen the case. Across several national outlets, Jacksonville keeps landing inside the top 10, even if the exact spot changes from list to list, which says plenty about how the team is being viewed right now. The overall picture is clear enough: this is no longer a club getting a polite nod for being improved, but one drawing real attention for how it has started.
What makes the ranking debate interesting is that the Jaguars are being measured against teams with different recent results and different kinds of strengths, which can make every move up or down feel meaningful. For Jacksonville, the bigger issue is not whether it belongs in the top 10, but whether it can stay there once the league starts presenting a harder test week after week. The respect is building quickly, and so is the expectation that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]