Michael Pittman Jr. is on the injury report again, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are waiting on a big Week 3 answer.
For the second week in a row, Pittsburgh has tagged Pittman as questionable because of a foot injury. He was already downgraded to out before last Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, and the Steelers paid the price in a 3-point loss.
This time, there’s at least a chance he suits up against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC North matchup that already looks like a difficult one for Pittsburgh’s offense.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport said Pittman is dealing with a “flare-up” of plantar fascia in his feet, calling it the kind of issue that can linger and stay uncomfortable. As Rapoport put it: “My understanding is he’s dealing with a flare-up of his plantar fascia in his feet.
So, something that can be incredibly uncomfortable. Something that also doesn’t go away and is going have to be something we’re gonna keep an eye…
When Pittman has been on the field, the usage has been heavy. In Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, he caught all three of his targets for 58 yards and played 88.1 percent of the Steelers’ snaps. That kind of workload points to a near every-down role when he’s healthy.
The problem for Pittsburgh is that the passing game hasn’t gone anywhere yet. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are still searching for answers, with the offense sitting dead last in the NFL in EPA/Play. Rodgers also ranks dead last in EPA/Pass, and Pittsburgh is 23rd in passing yards.
The matchup doesn’t help. Cincinnati comes in fifth in the league in EPA/Play on defense and sixth in EPA/Pass, which is a brutal spot for a Steelers attack that has been stuck in neutral through two weeks.
Rodgers has not completed a pass longer than 20 yards this season, going 0-for-9 on such throws. He averaged just 6.7 yards per attempt last season, and that number is down to 5.2 in 2026.
Rodgers threw for 221 yards against Atlanta in Week 1, then followed it up with 187 yards in Week 2 despite 39 pass attempts.
With Pittman’s status unresolved, the Steelers are carrying real uncertainty into Sunday. Pittsburgh is an underdog at home, and if Pittman can’t go - or is limited - it would be another major hit to an offense that has not found its rhythm.
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