It was clear that the Pittsburgh Steelers organization believed help at the wide receiver position was necessary when the front office drafted George Pickens and Calvin Austin III in the second and fourth rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, respectively.
JuJu Smith-Schuster left in free agency along with James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud. The franchise spent significant money at the quarterback and linebacker positions with Mitchell Trubisky and Myles Jack coming in from the outside. As the team prepares to take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, a certain veteran pass catcher claimed that Head Coach, Mike Tomlin was very interested in bringing him on board.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin smiles on during 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Baltimore signed wide receiver DeSean Jackson to their practice squad about a month and a half ago. This upcoming Sunday will be his fourth weekend suiting up for the black and purple this year. Regardless of age, he always poses a threat based on his speed and elusiveness. The 36-year-old spoke with the media on Thursday as he approaches his season debut and brought up the fact that the Steelers and Tomlin may regret not welcoming him into the locker room months ago.
"Mike Tomlin, we had a few talks. He was like 'yeah, I'm gonna bring you in.' Never happened. So now it's like, alright now y'all missed out now. So now I got some extra motivation," Jackson said.
Tomlin is known to be a players' coach. The kind of communication that the two may have had as well as the location and timeframe was not clear, but it shouldn't come as surprising that Pittsburgh's head coach was looking for a veteran to help lead a very young receiving core.
Ravens wide receiver DeSean Jackson catches a pass during his first practice with the team Wednesday. Jackson, who was signed to the practice squad this week, is entering his 15th season. (Photo Credit: Kevin Richardson/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
He has remained his old self. Jackson is averaging 20 yards per reception and just two weekends ago had two receptions for 74 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pittsburgh's safeties can't neglect his ability to get open down the field, regardless of his age.
Baltimore's newest secret weapon doesn't forget his roots, however. He spoke about being from the Steel City and reflected on a time many years ago when he played the Steelers in his first game as a professional football player.
"My family is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My first game actually when I was in Philly [with the Eagles], we played the Pittsburgh Steelers for the preseason game. My dad had the Eagles' Jackson jersey on, but he had his Terrible Towel," Jackson said.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeSean Jackson (15) catches a pass during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 27, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jackson more than likely has a better shot at playing meaningful games into January with the Steelers' division rival. Even if Tomlin showed interest throughout the off-season, it is probably that fair to assume that the pass catcher held out a little longer to avoid playing a full season along with the attractive idea of joining a contender halfway through the season.
Regardless, he will have the mindset to enact revenge on the Steelers' organization for not pursuing him further throughout the summer.
Do you think that Tomlin was legitimately interested in the 36-year-old wide receiver? Let us know in the comments below!
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