The Pittsburgh Steelers’ passing game is already under the microscope, and DK Metcalf is taking the heat after back-to-back rough outings have turned into a full-blown conversation about his reliability.
Following Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, Metcalf found himself at the center of the criticism after another game in which the drops piled up. He had two against New England, including a third-down miss in a key spot, and the reaction has spread well beyond the fan base.
Former Steelers All-Pro Le’Veon Bell didn’t sugarcoat his response. After Metcalf dropped a pass from Rodgers in Week 2, Bell fired off a post on X and questioned why Pittsburgh paid so much for a receiver who, in his view, cannot finish plays.
"Somebody tell me what DK did to get paid so much by Pittsburgh!!!!! bro can't catch for ****," Bell wrote.
somebody tell me what DK did to get paid so much by pittsburgh!!!! bro can’t catch for shit
Metcalf ended the game with four catches for 27 yards, but that line doesn’t tell the full story. Before the fourth quarter, he had just two receptions for two yards and had already put two drops on the board.
That leaves the Steelers with a problem they can’t ignore. Metcalf is a major issue right now, and he might be one they simply have to live with unless he turns it around quickly.
The wider concern is the lack of help around him. With Michael Pittman Jr. missing time because of a foot injury, the next names up are Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard. Beyond that, Pittsburgh would be asking Ben Skowronek or Kaden Wetjen to fill a meaningful role in the passing game.
So the burden falls back on Metcalf. He’s long been known as one of the league’s most explosive athletes, but his hands have never come with the same level of trust. And once the drops start, they tend to snowball.
That means Aaron Rodgers has to spread the ball around and lighten the load on the throws going Metcalf’s way. If Metcalf isn’t functioning as a true WR1, then Bernard and Wilson need more involvement, along with tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
That’s the path the Steelers need to explore if they want to steady the offense. For now, though, the scrutiny on Metcalf isn’t going anywhere, and after two shaky performances, the only real way to quiet it is to start catching the ball and producing.
In Other News...
Patriots Showed Needed Fight In A Win That Came At A Cost
A win over Pittsburgh gave the Patriots a much-needed jolt in the early part of the 2026 season, and the 20-3 result carried the kind of edge New England had been looking for. TreVeyon Henderson supplied the spark with a 39-yard touchdown run, while the defense tightened up late and kept the Steelers from finding any rhythm, with Christian Gonzalez helping limit receiver Metcalf throughout the night.
Even so, the victory came with a price attached. Mike Onwenu and DreMont Jones were among the Patriots who left with injuries, leaving a cloud over what should have been a straightforward celebration after the teams first win of the year. For a roster still trying to establish itself, the result offered proof of fight and structure, but also another reminder of how quickly one game can alter the outlook moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Former Steelers Standout Shares A Raw Confession Fans Werent Expecting
Diontae Johnsons latest social media post landed as something much more serious than a routine offseason update. The former Steelers wide receiver, now a free agent after brief stops with the Ravens and Texans, opened up in a video about severe mental health struggles and said he has been carrying remorse over decisions from his past. It was a stark reminder that the work players do away from the field can be far heavier than anything fans see in training clips.
Johnson also pushed back on the image his public workouts might create, saying those videos do not reflect his true emotional state. For a player once central to Pittsburghs offense, the message carried an unmistakable sense of urgency: his mental health is his top priority right now. The football side of his story is still unsettled, but for the moment, the bigger concern is simply where Johnson is personally as he tries to move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Offensive Slump Is Raising An Aaron Rodgers Question
The Steelers offense has looked out of sync through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, and the spotlight has landed squarely on Aaron Rodgers after a rough showing in the loss to the New England Patriots. It has been the kind of uneven start that invites uncomfortable conversation in Pittsburgh, especially when a veteran quarterback is expected to steady everything around him.
ESPN analyst Dan Graziano floated the possibility of a quarterback change if the struggles keep piling up, though he also suggested that kind of move would be an overreaction this early. Mike McCarthy and Rodgers have both acknowledged the offense has not been good enough, but the message from inside the building has been to fix the issues rather than panic, leaving the real question to linger over how long that patience lasts. [Read more 🡒]