Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf Held Overnight in Baltimore After Stomach Pains, Week 15 Status Uncertain
Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf stayed overnight in Baltimore following Sunday’s game after experiencing stomach pains that led to a precautionary hospital visit, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The situation began during the team’s flight, when Metcalf began feeling discomfort. Rather than risk anything more serious, the Steelers medical staff made the call to send him to a local hospital for evaluation.
He was later discharged and stayed overnight in a nearby hotel. Metcalf is expected to fly back to Pittsburgh today.
At this point, the team’s primary concern was ruling out any significant internal injuries. While the early signs don’t point to anything major, it's still too soon to know whether Metcalf will be available for the Steelers' Week 15 matchup.
Metcalf, 27, has been a key piece of Pittsburgh’s offense this season after being acquired in a headline-grabbing offseason trade with the Seahawks. The Steelers sent a second-round and a seventh-round pick to Seattle in exchange for Metcalf and a sixth-rounder, then quickly locked him up with a four-year, $132 million extension that runs through the 2029 season.
The move was a bold one for Pittsburgh, and so far, Metcalf has delivered. Through 13 games in 2025, he’s hauled in 52 catches on 87 targets, racking up 753 yards and five touchdowns. His size-speed combo has added a new dimension to the Steelers’ passing game and given their quarterback a reliable playmaker on the outside.
Metcalf’s journey to Pittsburgh started back in 2019, when the Seahawks traded up to draft him in the second round out of Ole Miss. He signed a rookie deal worth just under $4.6 million, then cashed in with a three-year, $72 million extension in 2022. That deal was later restructured in 2024, bumping his base salary to $18 million this season before he landed his current long-term deal with the Steelers.
Now, the focus shifts to his health. While the team hasn’t released any updates beyond the initial precautionary measures, his availability for next week remains in question. For a Steelers squad still fighting for playoff positioning, having Metcalf on the field could be a difference-maker.
We’ll keep an eye on his status as the week progresses, but for now, the hope in Pittsburgh is that this was just a minor scare - and not something that lingers into the critical final stretch of the season.