The Steelers are 5-2, riding a three-game winning streak and heading into a Week 8 meeting with the Browns sitting in the AFC’s No. 6 spot. That’s the kind of start that gives a team oxygen in October. But if Pittsburgh wants to be taken seriously as a real contender, the missing piece is hard to miss: this offense still needs a true difference-maker at wide receiver.
Pittsburgh tried to solve that problem in the offseason, bringing in Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts and taking Germie Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bernard has already looked the part, putting up 254 yards and a touchdown while starting three games. Pittman, though, landed on the reserve/injured list with a foot injury before the Week 5 game against Indianapolis and does not appear likely to return before Week 10, which is the first point he would be eligible after missing the required four games.
The injuries have kept stacking there, too. Roman Wilson went on IR before Week 6 because of a finger issue, and Ben Skowronek has missed back-to-back games with a calf injury. DK Metcalf has steadied himself after a rough opening stretch, totaling 276 yards over his last four games, but he still hasn’t established himself as a true No. 1 receiver in a Steelers uniform.
That matters because the passing game has been too cautious for too long. The Steelers were already conservative under former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in 2024 and 2025, and that hasn’t changed with first-year head coach Mike McCarthy.
Through seven games, Aaron Rodgers’ average depth of target sits at 7.42 yards, which ranks 21st among 34 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, according to SumerSports. His 61.6 percent completion rate and -0.13 EPA/pass both rank 25th by that same measure, and his 3.2 percent big-time throw rate is tied for 22nd, per Pro Football Focus.
On throws of 20-plus yards, Rodgers has completed just seven of 36 attempts, a 19.4 percent mark that ranks fifth-worst in the league.
Rodgers has been solid enough overall, but the offense still lacks any real explosion through the air. That’s the ceiling issue.
Pittsburgh can run the ball, and Jaylen Warren has been one of the top backs in the league, but a ground game alone won’t carry a team all the way. If the Steelers want to stretch defenses and make the offense more dangerous, they need another receiver who can separate and create big plays.
That’s why a trade deadline swing feels unavoidable. Brian Thomas Jr. is the sort of high-upside target that would force Pittsburgh to think big, even if it would take a hefty price. Thomas Jr. has stumbled over the last two seasons since the Jaguars brought in Liam Coen as head coach, but the 2024 first-round pick already showed star potential with 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
There are other names that could come into play, including Quentin Johnston of the Chargers, Jerry Jeudy of the Browns, Dontayvion Wicks of the Eagles and Stefon Diggs of the Commanders. None of them offer the same kind of ceiling as Thomas Jr., though.
Wide receiver isn’t the only place where the Steelers could use help. Cornerback has become a concern since the team ended the Joey Porter Jr. saga by trading him to the Cowboys in Week 4.
Jamel Dean can handle No. 1 duties, but Asante Samuel Jr. and Daylen Everette are risky options on the other side. Sean Murphy-Bunting and Terell Smith give Pittsburgh veteran depth, yet neither is someone you want suddenly forced into a major role.
Inside linebacker is another area worth watching. Payton Wilson has made progress in his third NFL season, and Patrick Queen turned in his best game in some time during the Week 7 win over the Saints. Even so, that duo has been inconsistent, and although Elandon Roberts could eventually matter after landing on the practice squad, the Steelers could still benefit from a more impactful addition.
For all the positives in Pittsburgh’s start, the path to becoming a legitimate AFC threat is pretty clear. If the Steelers want to end their seven-game postseason losing streak and make real noise, adding a receiver who can change the shape of the offense is the move that would matter most.
In Other News...
Yahya Black Is Giving Steelers Fans Another Reason To Trust This Defense
Yahya Black has quietly become one of the more interesting developments on Pittsburghs defense this season. With Derrick Harmon sidelined, Blacks role has grown, and while the box score and grading metrics may not fully capture it, the tape shows a lineman doing the dirty work that helps the Steelers run defense hold up. He has been clogging lanes, taking on double teams and making life harder for backs trying to find clean space inside.
There is also a little more to his game than just eating blocks, which matters for a defense that wants dependable pieces it can keep on the field. Black has started to show improvement as a pass rusher, giving Pittsburgh a more versatile presence up front and making him increasingly playable in more situations. For a team that leans on its defense to set the tone, that kind of growth is another reason to trust what this unit can still be. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Have A Trade Deadline Question Fans Will Fight Over
With the NFL trade deadline drawing closer, the Steelers are in the familiar position of weighing whether a midseason move could help a roster that still has obvious edges to smooth out. Pittsburgh has about $14.5 million in salary cap space, enough to at least take a serious look at the market if the right deal appears, and the early chatter is already pointing in several directions depending on which part of the roster the front office believes needs the most help.
The names being floated span the board, from cornerback Tariq Woolen and wideout Jauan Jennings to linebacker Frankie Luvu, guard Quenton Nelson and safety Jessie Bates III, which tells you how many different conversations could be happening at once. The bigger question is not just who is available, but whether Pittsburgh wants a short-term fix in a rental type of move or prefers to keep its powder dry and trust what it has, a choice that usually gets fans arguing long before the deadline actually arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Porter Jr Is Reopening An Uncomfortable Steelers Debate
Joey Porter Jr. has become a reminder of what the Steelers used to have at cornerback, and the contrast has been hard to ignore. Now with Dallas, Porter has been sharp in coverage this season, while Pittsburghs secondary looked vulnerable again in its Week 7 game against New Orleans, giving up a string of completions and too many easy yards in the back end.
The comparison is uncomfortable because it goes beyond a single rough afternoon. Porter has been doing his part for the Cowboys, while the Steelers are left sorting through another week where their defensive backs did not hold up the way they needed to, and that only sharpens the old question about how Pittsburgh evaluated and moved on from the young corner. [Read more 🡒]