The Pittsburgh Steelers shook up their roster Tuesday with two significant veteran moves - one arrival and one departure - in a season that’s been anything but stable on the offensive side of the ball.
First, the Steelers claimed wide receiver Adam Thielen off waivers, just a day after the veteran asked for his release from the Minnesota Vikings. Thielen, a two-time Pro Bowler with a history of production, now joins a Steelers receiving corps that’s been searching for answers all season long.
In a corresponding move, the team and cornerback Darius Slay agreed to part ways. Slay had been a healthy scratch in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, a sign that his role in Pittsburgh’s secondary had diminished significantly. He signed a one-year deal this offseason, but never quite found his footing in a defense that’s been up and down throughout the year.
Let’s start with Thielen. At 35, he’s not the same player who once posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Minnesota, but the Steelers aren’t looking for a WR1 - they’re looking for someone who can bring veteran savvy, reliable hands, and route-running precision to a group that’s lacked all three.
Thielen’s numbers this year - just eight catches for 69 yards in 11 games - don’t jump off the page, but this move isn’t about stat lines. It’s about stabilizing a position group that’s been inconsistent at best.
Outside of DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh’s wide receiver unit has struggled to make an impact. Metcalf is the only Steelers receiver with more than 300 receiving yards this season, and the offense has sputtered as a result. In Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, the Steelers managed just seven points - and Aaron Rodgers didn’t hold back in his postgame comments, challenging his receivers to step up.
Behind Metcalf, the Steelers have been rolling with young and unproven options like Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson. There’s potential there, but so far, it hasn’t translated into production. Thielen might not be a game-breaker anymore, but he knows how to get open, especially in the short-to-intermediate game - a skill set that could mesh well with Rodgers’ quick-read tendencies, especially behind an offensive line that hasn’t always kept the pocket clean.
As for Slay, the writing may have been on the wall. Being inactive despite being healthy is rarely a good sign, particularly for a player brought in to provide veteran leadership and coverage stability. With younger corners emerging and the Steelers needing to make room on the roster, the decision to move on from Slay feels like a shift toward the future - or at least toward players who better fit what this defense is trying to do right now.
At 6-6, the Steelers are still in the thick of the playoff hunt, but the margin for error is razor-thin. These moves - bringing in a trusted veteran receiver and cutting ties with a cornerback who wasn’t contributing - suggest a team that’s trying to fine-tune its roster for a late-season push.
Thielen may not be the long-term answer, but in the short term, he gives the Steelers something they desperately need: a reliable target who knows how to move the chains. And in a season where every possession matters, that could make all the difference.