The Steelers’ wide receiver room is running thin, but one name keeps coming up as the team looks for answers: Max Hurleman.
With injuries piling up, Pittsburgh is trying to piece together enough help at the position for the stretch run. Roman Wilson has missed the last four weeks with a finger injury, while Michael Pittman Jr. is working through plantar fasciitis in his foot. Both are hopeful to return this season, but there’s still no clear timetable.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said both players are working off to the side in practice and moving toward a return, though the exact timing remains uncertain. That uncertainty has opened the door for Hurleman, a practice squad receiver who has been around the building long enough to earn real attention.
Hurleman has turned heads in back-to-back training camps and preseason stretches. In both 2025 and 2026, he came close to making the 53-man roster before just missing out, with his undersized frame and undrafted background likely working against him. Still, he’s stayed on the radar, and McCarthy has now brought him up more than once as a player who could come off Injured Reserve and help the offense.
“I feel great about our guys. I mean, we’re getting guys healthy.
Michael [Pittman Jr.] is getting close, obviously, Roman [Wilson] and Max [Hurleman],” McCarthy said after the trade deadline. “So, we’ve got good young guys.
Both the Brandons [Smith and Johnson]. So, we’ve got a group that I’m excited to continue to work with.”
Aaron Rodgers echoed that sentiment, pointing to Hurleman as one of the practice squad players who could eventually make a difference.
“We’ve obviously raised up a couple of our P-Squad guys who are talented. Still would love to get some opportunities for Max [Hurleman] at some point whenever he comes off,” Rodgers said about players who can contribute at wide receiver.
“We have Marquez [Valdes-Scantling], who hasn’t been brought up yet, so we have a lot of options. But I’m hopeful that we’ll get [Michael Pittman Jr.] and Roman [Wilson] back sooner rather than later.”
Hurleman is currently on the practice squad IR list, but he is eligible to return. If and when that happens, McCarthy’s comments suggest he could get a real shot on the active roster.
“I mean, how do you not love Max [Hurleman]? I mean, Max is, he’s one of the guys you - as a new coach, new coaching staff, you come in here every day doing everything right,” McCarthy said.
“GPS was, [he] burned it up. I mean, just, the guy has an incredible workload capacity, work ethic.
So, unfortunate that he got hurt when he did. I felt that he truly performed to a level that he deserved a 53-man roster spot.
So, it’ll be great to get him back and get him back into the fold.”
Hurleman said hearing his name mentioned by Rodgers and McCarthy meant a lot.
“Awesome,” Hurleman told Steelers On SI, about being mentioned by Rodgers and McCarthy. “It’s very humbling whenever your name gets brought up.
I’ve been working my tail off every day to come back. To get the recognition, that means a lot, but obviously, there’s a ton of work to do.
Haven’t played a game yet, but it’s awesome to hear they trust me and see me as an option.”
He added, “That’s why we play the game, to be out there on Sundays. Whatever my role has been, I’ve tried to excel at that. But I’ve been itching to play.”
With no move made at the trade deadline, Pittsburgh may end up turning to a familiar practice squad name for help. Hurleman is suddenly one to watch.
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