The Steelers had a chance to chase a proven wideout at the trade deadline, but they never crossed the line that would have brought Josh Downs to Pittsburgh. That decision says plenty about where they are with Germie Bernard.
Downs ended up going to the Kansas City Chiefs right before the NFL deadline, with the Colts getting a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return. Pittsburgh was reportedly in the mix and had called about him for weeks, but the price never lined up.
Since the Steelers didn’t own a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft, getting a deal done likely would have meant parting with a third-rounder. That was more than Omar Khan was willing to spend.
For fans who wanted another receiver added, the quiet finish to deadline day was frustrating. But it also points to real confidence in Bernard, the rookie who has gone from slow burn to steady presence in the offense.
The Steelers have spent years hearing the same complaint: play the young guys you draft. Under Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh often seemed content to lean on veteran placeholders instead of letting rookies grow into bigger roles. This time, though, the team is clearly making room for its younger talent, and Bernard is part of that shift.
The second-round pick needed about a month before he started seeing meaningful snaps, but once he got rolling, he became a dependable part of the passing game. Since Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, Bernard has 25 catches on 33 targets for 235 yards and a touchdown.
He also had a breakout-looking moment in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he caught 11 passes on 12 targets for 87 yards and a score in the win. That game showed how he can function as more than just a complementary piece.
Bernard does a lot of his best work from the slot, much like Downs does for the Colts. He doesn’t win with pure speed, but he moves smoothly, and once the ball is in his hands, he can break tackles and add yards after the catch.
And there’s reason to think the role only grows from here. The 22-year-old is already giving the offense something real, and the Steelers don’t appear eager to push him into the background.
Even when Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson return, Bernard should remain the team’s No. 2 receiver. His blocking also gives him a strong case to stay on the field in 12 personnel as the wideout in two-receiver sets.
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Steelers Suddenly Have Real AFC North Pressure They Cant Ignore
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That makes the next Steelers-Bengals meeting feel bigger than a typical divisional game, especially with the standings still in flux and the margin for error shrinking. Pittsburgh has spent much of the season in control, but the pressure is different now: Cincinnati is closing, the Ravens and Browns are still lurking in the background, and every head-to-head result carries more weight as the division race starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]