The Steelers spent part of the lead-up to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline chasing receiver help, and Calvin Ridley looked like the name closest to landing in Pittsburgh.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, the Steelers pushed on multiple wideouts, including Brian Thomas Jr., Josh Downs and Ridley. Ridley, in particular, was the one who “seemed destined to land in Pittsburgh before the Titans decided not to trade him,” Fowler and Graziano wrote.
Graziano reported that Pittsburgh and Tennessee did have conversations about Ridley. But the Titans ultimately chose to keep him, even after moving defensive pieces Amani Hooker and Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee wanted to preserve continuity on offense around rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
“The Steelers were in the market for wide receiver help, and I was told they were in discussions with Tennessee about Calvin Ridley,” Graziano wrote. “But while the Titans dealt away a couple of key defensive players in Amani Hooker and Jeffery Simmons, they stayed true to their word about holding the offense together to give Cam Ward a chance to continue his development.”
Fowler added that a late-round pick might have been enough to get a Ridley deal done for Pittsburgh, but the recent incident at the Nashville airport added another layer of uncertainty for teams weighing a move.
The Steelers also made a run at Downs before the Colts sent him to the Kansas City Chiefs. Fowler said Pittsburgh’s lack of a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft made it harder to stay in the mix for Downs.
That draft capital mattered for another reason, too. Pittsburgh is still dealing with long-term questions at quarterback, which makes future picks especially valuable if the team eventually has to find its next starter through the draft or a trade. Fowler noted that some of the clubs that were most aggressive at the deadline already have established franchise quarterbacks in place.
In the end, Pittsburgh came away empty on the receiver front. But help may still be on the way from inside the building.
Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek are all expected back in the coming weeks, giving the Steelers a chance to get more options into the passing game for the stretch run.
For now, Pittsburgh moves ahead with the roster it has. The Steelers are 6-2 entering Week 10 and head to Cincinnati for a huge AFC North showdown against the 6-2 Bengals on Sunday Night Football.
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
In Other News...
Calvin Ridley Finally Addressed The Titans Off-Field Incident
Calvin Ridley has now addressed the airport incident that briefly put him in the middle of an off-field distraction for the Titans. The wide receiver said the dispute started at Nashville International Airport, where he was trying to retrieve his truck keys without a ticket and showed identification and vehicle registration before the situation escalated.
Ridley said he ultimately took the keys after the valet refused to hand them over, and the Titans have already been in contact with airport authorities about what happened. For now, there has been no charge and no contact from the airport to Ridley, leaving the matter more as an awkward episode than a lingering legal issue, at least for the time being. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Ward Just Gave Titans Fans A Real Reason To Believe
Cam Wards Week 8 showing against the Cincinnati Bengals gave the Titans something they have been waiting for from their young quarterback: a glimpse of real progress. He threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, then added a career-high 41 rushing yards, a performance that stood out not just for the production but for the poise it suggested after a difficult start to his NFL career.
Wards overall record as a starter remains a sobering 4-21, and there is still plenty of work ahead before Tennessee can feel settled at the games most important position. Even so, his growth in Brian Dabolls system is becoming harder to ignore, and the Titans can at least point to a player who has kept fighting through the rough patches and looks capable of becoming a long-term piece if the development keeps trending in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Missed A Chance To Fix Their Biggest Problem Before Deadline
The trade deadline came and went with a few big names still sitting right where they started, and one of the more intriguing possibilities involved Tony Pollard and the Titans. Green Bay was among the teams weighing a move for the veteran back, a deal that would have given Tennessee a chance to reset a backfield that has been under the microscope while also adding draft capital at a time when every asset matters.
Pollard staying put was only one part of a deadline that left several contenders looking at what might have been. The Giants explored Jonathan Taylor, the Rams checked on George Pickens, and none of those swings materialized, leaving Tennessee with its own situation unchanged for now and the rest of the league still sorting through the cost of standing pat. [Read more 🡒]