Steelers Desperate For Offensive Answers; Host Hall Of Famer Terrell Owens For Help

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered an astonishing loss during Week 1 of the 2023 season against the San Francisco 49ers. Riding a wave of confidence from a nearly perfect preseason, the Steelers and their fans were stunned by the abysmal play in all three phases of the game. On top of the loss, they suffered several injuries, some to key players, and now they are left trying to figure out how to fill those holes. Could they have brought in help in the form of a former AFC rival?

During the lopsided 30-7 loss at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers saw several starting players go down. This included Cameron Heyward, DeMarvin Leal, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth. While no injury is good, the two most concerning are Heyward and Johnson. According to Head Coach Mike Tomlin's postgame press conference, he is "optimistic" about Freiermuth playing Week 2, but ruled both Heyward and Johnson out for several weeks. 

Heyward is going to be impossible to just replace. No one player can just plug into his spot and take over for him. He is a veteran presence both on and off the field and serves as the team's captain. He suffered a groin injury during the first game of the season and it was recently confirmed that he will require surgery to repair the damage. 

As for Johnson, he had only three receptions for 48 yards prior to suffering what looked to be a hamstring injury. He was seen immediately grabbing for the back of his leg as he went down. This is a huge blow to the offense as Johnson is the receiver who has been with the team the longest. He and quarterback Kenny Pickett worked together during the offseason to establish better chemistry and Pickett was looking forward to using Johnson as a top target in 2023. 

The absence of Johnson leaves a gaping hole in the offense. Like Heyward, Johnson isn't someone who can just easily be replaced. Unfortunately, the other receivers on the team don't play receiver in the same way as Johnson. While it isn't clear yet just how they will fill the void left by Johnson's injury, it seems likely it will be by the current receivers on the team. 

We should expect to see Calvin Austin III take a huge leap in the amount of time he plays, as George Pickens moves up to step in for Johnson more. The team also has Allen Robinson. He's a veteran new to Pittsburgh, but can play in the slot. Perhaps the coaches will even swap the receivers in and out of playing on the outside and playing in the slot, all of this remains to be seen. But a recent arrival in Pittsburgh has people speculating that the organization might have brought in some top-tier help. 

Did The Steelers Fly In A Hall Of Fame Receiver To Provide Support?

Shortly after the loss to the 49ers, news broke that a well-known wide receiver was in Pittsburgh and at the Steelers facility. Terrell Owens was seen as Pittsburgh began to prepare for Week 2 and the Cleveland Browns without their top wide receiver. 

Owens is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all-time. He spent 15 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the third round in 1996 out of the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Because the college he attended did not have a big-time football program, he did not get much attention when he announced his intentions to enter the NFL Draft. 

The 49ers took a chance on him and never regretted it for a second. He spent eight seasons in San Francisco, then two with the Philadelphia Eagles, three with the Dallas Cowboys, and one each with the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. After the NFL was done with Owens, he still wasn't done with football. He went on to spend time playing in Canada. 

During his remarkable career, he broke numerous records and was a thorn in the side of every defense. He finished his NFL career playing in 219 games, starting 201, making 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns. Owens was a remarkable player and a tremendously gifted athlete. While a Super Bowl ring always alluded him, he did earn five First Team All-Pro nods and was a six-time Pro Bowler. He was the NFL receiving touchdown leader three times. So who better than to help a group of young receivers out?

There is no proof that Owens is in town actually mentoring players, but at 49, he is not likely to be suiting up in the black and gold. While it is possible that he is acting as a consultant for the team or serving as a mentor to players like Austin and Pickens, he could also be shooting footage for his podcast, Getcha Popcorn Ready.

What do you think about Owens being in town? Do you think he is helping the Steelers? Click to comment below. 

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