The Steelers are sitting at 6-2 and alone atop the AFC North, but the buzz around the Nov. 10 trade deadline may be louder than the actual action. One of the most obvious spots fans have circled is wide receiver, especially with the idea that another outside target could give Aaron Rodgers more help downfield. Still, one longtime Steelers beat writer doesn’t sound like he expects Pittsburgh to jump in.
In his weekly chat on Wednesday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was asked repeatedly about the possibility of the Steelers adding a receiver. His answer pointed in one direction.
“They’re not seriously pursuing any,” Dulac replied. “What I’m hearing is they are not likely or intending to make a trade, but as I always say, never under-estimate the desperation of an NFL GM who might coming knocking for a deal.”
That lines up with the sense that Pittsburgh may already view its receiver move for this season as done. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr., and while that deal looked like a meaningful swing, Pittman Jr. has been banged up for the good majority of the season so far, leaving it hard to know exactly what he might have given the offense.
For now, the Steelers are riding a four-game winning streak, and the conversation around the deadline is still just that - conversation. Dulac’s reporting serves as a reminder that Pittsburgh could simply stay put, wait for the receiver room to get healthier, and hope the group becomes better at separating against zone coverage. Until something actually happens, it remains speculation.
In Other News...
Steelers Quarterback Depth Just Entered The Trade Deadline Conversation
The Steelers quarterback room is suddenly part of the trade deadline chatter, even if the situation still feels more theoretical than urgent. Pittsburgh is carrying four quarterbacks on its 53-man roster, with veteran Mason Rudolph among them, and that kind of depth naturally gets attention when the deadline starts creeping closer and teams around the league begin bracing for injuries.
ESPNs Jeremy Fowler floated Rudolph as a possible trade candidate in that context, though the broader read is that Pittsburgh is not expected to be active in that way. For now, it reads more like a league-wide what-if than a real sign the Steelers are preparing to deal from a position of strength, with any movement depending on how the quarterback market shifts elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Cornerback Regret Looks Worse With Every Week
The Steelers secondary decisions from the 2026 offseason are looking a little different now than they did then. Pittsburgh traded Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys and let James Pierre walk to Minnesota, a pair of moves that seemed manageable at the time but have taken on more weight as the season has gone on. Porter has been solid enough in Dallas, but Pierres rise with the Vikings has turned him into the more glaring what-if for a defense that could have used another dependable corner.
Pierre has settled in quickly in Minnesota and the coverage numbers have backed up the eye test, with a strong showing that has him sitting 12th among NFL cornerbacks. For the Steelers, the frustration is less about one bad decision than the combination of performance and cost, since Pierres contract was the kind of deal Pittsburgh could have kept in play. Instead, the front office is left watching a player it knew well thrive elsewhere while the question of whether he should have stayed in black and gold lingers a little longer each week. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Win Over Browns Just Sparked A New Rivalry Flashpoint
A routine extra-point sequence turned into one of the sharper postgame talking points from Pittsburgh's Week 8 win over Cleveland, when guard Mason McCormick drew an unnecessary roughness penalty after a hit on Browns defensive end Jared Verse. The play added another layer to a rivalry that rarely needs much help finding emotion, and it quickly drew attention well beyond the field as former Browns safety T.J. Ward weighed in on the hit.
McCormick said afterward that he did not know it was Verse on the other end of the collision and was simply following coaching instructions, while Verse made clear he was upset about the incident. Verse also said he had already discussed the situation with his Browns teammates, leaving the episode as one more flashpoint in a matchup that seems to keep finding new edges every time these teams meet. [Read more 🡒]
