The Steelers’ receiver room got thin in a hurry against the Colts.
Midway through a tight Week 5 matchup, Pittsburgh lost both Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek for the rest of the game. That leaves the Steelers with DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard, Brandon Smith and return specialist Kaden Wetjen at wideout, with Michael Pittman Jr. already on Injured Reserve.
That’s a tough break in a game where both offenses have been moving the ball through the air. Pittsburgh is still in front, 24-22, and Jaylen Warren has been the big reason why.
He’s already found the end zone twice, first on an 80-yard catch and run and then on a 50-yard burst. Since stepping into a feature-back role, Warren has given the offense a much-needed spark after a rough start to the season.
Even with that lift, the Steelers can’t ask Warren to do everything. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington have been involved plenty as passing targets, and Bernard has also seen work as the rookie options thinned out. Metcalf, meanwhile, has had another quiet afternoon after showing a little life late in last week’s loss to the Browns.
Aaron Rodgers is working quickly, getting the ball out fast, and that seems tied to the beating he took a week ago. It may also be the smartest way forward with Wilson unavailable, since he’s Pittsburgh’s best separator. Skowronek has chipped in too, especially from heavy sets where the Steelers have used play action to get him downfield.
Now the job gets simpler, if not easier: lean on the run game, keep involving the tight ends, and try to close it out. Pittsburgh’s defense still has work to do after giving up too much room in the passing game, even though it has done a strong job limiting Jonathan Taylor. The Steelers need enough from what’s left to protect the lead at home, because the schedule won’t get any friendlier from here.
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A surprising receiver watch has landed on the Steelers doorstep, with Arizona reportedly finalizing a trade involving Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals made him inactive for their Week 5 game, and that alone has been enough to put a jolt through the market as teams around the league start gauging whether there is any path to a deal.
Pittsburgh has been mentioned as a possible landing spot, but the fit is viewed as a long shot, especially with the Steelers still sorting through their own roster needs after recent transactions. If they stay in the conversation, they are not expected to overpay, which leaves the situation very much in wait-and-see mode for now. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Need A Response As Colts Bring Real Momentum
The Steelers get back to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday afternoon with a chance to steady themselves after a frustrating trip to Cleveland. Pittsburgh had its chances in a 27-24 loss to the Browns, but a second-half opportunity slipped away as the offense never fully cashed in on Clevelands miscues, and the result left both the locker room and the standings looking a lot tighter than the Steelers would have liked.
Indianapolis arrives with a little more bounce, riding a two-game winning streak into a matchup of 2-2 teams that already feels important in the AFC race. The game kicks at 1 p.m. ET, and with both sides listing their inactives and the usual broadcast details available, this one has the feel of a midseason measuring stick for a Pittsburgh team that needs a cleaner answer than it found last week. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Warren Just Gave Steelers Fans A New Reason To Believe
The Steelers left Indianapolis with a 3-2 record, and Jaylen Warren made sure the trip came with a performance that stood out well beyond the box score. The running back topped 100 rushing yards and piled up 188 all-purpose yards, giving Pittsburgh a much-needed spark in a game it controlled enough to keep building momentum.
Warrens afternoon had the kind of burst that can reshape how a team views its backfield, blending explosive plays on the ground and through the air into one of the most memorable outings of his career. For a Steelers offense still looking for consistent answers, his showing offered a reminder that the biggest difference-makers do not always come from the most obvious places. [Read more 🡒]