The Steelers stayed quiet at the trade deadline, but a familiar kind of opportunity may have just opened up anyway.
Philadelphia waived wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown ahead of its Week 10 game, putting the former first-round pick back on the market and giving Pittsburgh another possible route to help a thin, underwhelming receiver group without spending draft capital. Brown is now headed for free agency, and the expectation is that he could land with a playoff contender.
“Sources: The #Eagles are waiving WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, as both sides agreed it would be beneficial for all involved,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote via his X account. “Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs with the #Chiefs last season and is expected to land with a playoff contender.”
Brown’s time in Philadelphia never really got going. Injuries have been part of the story, and he’s also been inactive on game days. In four appearances, he has been targeted eight times, caught five passes for 63 yards and has not scored.
Still, the Eagles’ situation makes that stat line look incomplete. They don’t have a starting quarterback right now, and over the past calendar year they’ve moved on from multiple key pieces. In that kind of micro-rebuilding process, veterans like Brown can end up on the outside fast.
For Pittsburgh, the appeal is obvious. Brown showed last season with the Kansas City Chiefs that he can still tilt an offense, finishing with 49 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns. That kind of secondary production is exactly what the Steelers could use as they try to get more out of their offense.
There’s also a twist waiting on the schedule. The Steelers and Eagles meet in Week 11, so Brown could wind up facing his old team if he signs in Pittsburgh, with Aaron Rodgers potentially throwing him passes in that matchup.
The deadline has passed, which leaves the Steelers with very few ways to upgrade the roster. But they’ve already shown a willingness to make this kind of move.
Last season, Pittsburgh added veteran receiver Adam Thielen after the Minnesota Vikings waived him. Thielen, a three-time 1,000-yard receiver, played five games for the Steelers in the second half of the 2025 schedule and finished with 11 catches on 17 targets for 117 yards and no touchdowns.
That move didn’t produce the spark Pittsburgh wanted, but it did establish a template. The Steelers could once again take a shot on a once-productive receiver who suddenly becomes available and hope the second half of the season goes differently this time.
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