Brandon Aiyuk’s path back toward the NFL has put the Steelers back in familiar territory: wondering whether the receiver they nearly chased in 2024 is the kind of answer Aaron Rodgers needs.
Aiyuk reportedly filed for reinstatement Wednesday and plans to report to San Francisco’s facility Friday. From there, the 49ers could trade or release him, which would reopen a door Pittsburgh almost stepped through last year. General manager Omar Khan already knows the player, and the Steelers’ ongoing issues at wide receiver make the idea hard to ignore.
That need is obvious through eight games. Rodgers has not gotten enough production from his pass catchers, with DK Metcalf leading Pittsburgh at 378 receiving yards on 64 targets.
He has 33 catches. Rookie Germie Bernard has added 284 yards on 32 receptions.
The numbers point to an offense that still isn’t creating steady downfield separation. Aiyuk wouldn’t solve every problem, but his route-running ability could address one of the most stubborn ones.
Metcalf’s lack of consistent separation has been a real issue. An October 28 tracking-data breakdown had him averaging 2.48 yards of separation through Week 7, which ranked in the 27th percentile among receivers.
That doesn’t mean Metcalf is suddenly the wrong player. He has never been built around separation in the first place.
His game is about size, physicality and vertical threat. But asking him to win every route with precision doesn’t play to what makes him dangerous.
Bernard has offered some help, averaging 3.7 yards of separation through Week 8, though his shorter routes make that comparison imperfect. Michael Pittman Jr. is still on the roster, with an expected return date of Nov. 15.
Aiyuk, 28, was the No. 25 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and grew into one of the league’s cleanest route runners. His 2023 All-Pro season included 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. The bigger point is how he gets there: disguising routes, exploding out of breaks and attacking leverage to open windows for the quarterback.
That profile fits Rodgers. He has always been at his best when receivers arrive on time and in the right spot. Under Mike McCarthy, Aiyuk could be a strong fit on digs, crossers and intermediate in-breaking routes, giving Rodgers a chance to throw with anticipation instead of leaning on contested catches.
The pairing with Metcalf is what makes the idea especially interesting. Metcalf can stretch the field vertically, while Aiyuk can work underneath and across the middle. That would give McCarthy more flexibility and force defenses to deal with two very different receiving threats.
Pittsburgh’s previous interest in Aiyuk only adds to the case for another look, even though there is no confirmation the Steelers are negotiating for him now.
The concern is obvious, too. Aiyuk has not played since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2024, so expecting him to snap right back into All-Pro form would be a leap.
There’s also the cost. Rodgers has said this will be his final NFL season, and Pittsburgh can’t afford to hand over major draft capital for a receiver who may need time to regain his explosiveness.
That leaves Khan with a clear checklist before the November 10 trade deadline: check the medicals, weigh the availability and figure out the price. If the cost reflects two years away from football, Aiyuk’s route-running and Metcalf’s physical tools could be the kind of combination that changes Pittsburgh’s passing game for Rodgers’ final push.
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