DK Metcalf hasn’t put up the kind of numbers Pittsburgh expected when it brought him in at $33 million per year, but the Steelers have still found value in him in ways that don’t always show up in the box score.
Through five games, Metcalf has 19 catches for 225 yards. That puts him on pace for 65 receptions, 762 yards, and three touchdowns - solid production in a vacuum, but not the kind of stat line that screams star receiver.
The criticism has come with it, and fairly so. But in Pittsburgh’s last two wins, Metcalf has quietly done a lot of the dirty work that changes plays.
Against the run, he’s been a factor. On Jaylen Warren’s 80-yard touchdown catch and run, Metcalf delivered two key blocks that helped clear the lane for Warren down the sideline. That kind of effort matters, especially when it turns a big play into a touchdown.
He’s doing the same thing even when the ball isn’t headed his way. On the Steelers’ first offensive snap against the Bengals in Week 3, Aaron Rodgers found Warren out of the backfield. Metcalf immediately got to work and latched onto a defender, turning what looked like an eight-yard gain into a 30-yard pickup.
And there’s another layer here: defenses are paying attention. The Bengals shaded a safety over Metcalf on one snap, and that extra coverage opened space underneath for Roman Wilson to gain 18 yards. That’s part of the job too - forcing defenses to treat you like a threat even when you’re not the primary target.
The big catches will have to come. Everybody knows that.
But Metcalf has still made an impact by blocking hard, absorbing attention, and helping create room for others like Wilson and Germie Bernard. Pittsburgh has more weapons than it did a year ago, and as the season goes on, the chances for Metcalf should keep coming.
When they do, it’ll be on him to turn those opportunities into the kind of production people expect.
In Other News...
Jaylen Warren Finally Explained The Mentality Behind His Running Style
Jaylen Warrens running style has always looked like it was built on a simple rule: keep moving, keep contact to a minimum, and make defenders work for every stop. On the Rich Eisen Show, the Steelers back traced that mentality back to his high school days, saying an early lesson about playing physically and refusing to let one defender end the play still shapes the way he runs in the NFL. He also said he tries to approach games with the loose feel of casual pickup football, which helps explain why his game has never looked overly scripted.
Warrens routine away from the actual carries is part of what makes that mindset stick. He said he leans on his high school roots to stay grounded before games, and that connection to where he came from seems to matter as much as any coaching point. For a player whose style is all about balance, urgency and surviving first contact, the bigger question is how long that old lesson can keep translating against the speed and physicality of NFL defenses. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield's Thumb Suddenly Looms Over A Crucial Bucs Stretch
Baker Mayfields thumb has become the kind of injury that can reshape a few weeks for a team, especially with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trying to steady things in his absence. Mayfield is recovering and is expected to test his grip and throwing ability soon, while Tampa Bay has been leaning on Jalon Daniels as it waits for its starter to work back into form.
For the immediate future, the Buccaneers will have to keep planning without Mayfield when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers, even if the timeline leaves the door open for a possible return against the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. How quickly that thumb responds will matter not just for one game, but for the way Tampa Bay tries to position itself for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Trade Deadline Call Their Receiver Room Created
With roughly $15.75 million in cap space, Pittsburgh has enough financial wiggle room to at least explore a receiver addition before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. The Steelers passing game has already made the position a clear point of discussion, and that has turned the front offices attention toward a market that could get interesting quickly if the right player becomes available.
Brian Thomas Jr. and Jordan Addison sit near the top of the conversation as the kinds of targets that would force the Steelers to think big, while other names such as Chris Godwin, Jauan Jennings, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley and Quentin Johnston offer different blends of price, upside and contract control. For Pittsburgh, the challenge is not simply finding another wideout, but deciding whether the upgrade is worth paying for now, with the deadline approaching and several options carrying very different levels of complexity. [Read more 🡒]