Changes will be made, said Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin after the team's blowout loss in Week 4. Many thought that could spell the end for Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, but that was wishful thinking. The Steelers have made some moves in the wide receiver room though, as they released Dez Fitzpatrick on Monday. Fitzpatrick spent the duration of his tenure in Pittsburgh on the practice squad, so this move came as minimal surprise.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin made it clear that he was disappointed with the team's performance in Week 4, as they were blown out by a rookie quarterback in Houston.
Now, they have signed a notable name to their practice squad. That would be Denzel Mims, whom the New York Jets selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This transaction was first reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Jets actually selected him just 10 picks after the Steelers took Chase Claypool. In three seasons with the Jets, the Baylor product had just 42 catches for 676 yards.
The #Steelers are signing WR Denzel Mims to the practice squad, source says. The former second-round pick of the #Jets joins Pittsburgh as he works his way back from an ankle injury suffered while with the #Lions in camp.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 3, 2023
He's still yet to score a touchdown in the NFL, and with plenty of acquisitions this past offseason, the Jets opted to move on from him. In fact, the Steelers were one of a few teams that were interested in Mims back in July. Instead, the Jets ended up trading him to the Detroit Lions, along with a 2025 seventh-rounder, for a 2025 conditional sixth-rounder.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The Steelers offense has severely missed the presence of a guy like wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who has been out since Week 1 with a hamstring injury.
Fast forward to August, and the Lions waived Mims, as he didn't even make it to the regular season with the NFC North squad. As Garafolo reported, Mims is still recovering from an ankle injury from training camp. Presumably, this means he isn't quite ready to return to the field. When he does though, his talent could provide an impact in Pittsburgh. With Diontae Johnson out since Week 1, the Steelers wide receiver room has struggled.
Should The Steelers Be Concerned About Their Wide Receiver Depth?
Calvin Austin III has stepped up at times, but he hasn't been a consistent threat like Johnson. What about the back end of the wide receiver room's depth you might ask? Well, Miles Boykin has logged just 23 offensive snaps this year. He caught his lone target this season for five yards. In 20 games over the past two seasons, that's now a total of just three catches for the former Baltimore Ravens third-rounder.
He's always been known more as a core special teamer, as he's registered 78 snaps there in 2023 so far. Boykin will remain on the team due to his impact there, but he doesn't bring anything to the offensive side of the ball. Realistically though, Mims could replace a guy like Gunner Olszewski on the 53-man roster. In Week 4, Olszewski was a healthy inactive against the Houston Texans.
JORDAN SCHOFIELD / STEELERNATION (TWITTER / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers wideout Gunner Olszewski has disappointed in his two seasons in Pittsburgh.
With his ongoing struggles on special teams, Olszewski could be nearing the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh. Mims is a no-risk, potential high-upside move by the Steelers front office. If he pans out, he has the talent to round out the wide receiver room with better overall depth. One thing is clear: the offense needs to change something and this provides more talent. To start, a return from injury from Johnson would be huge for this offense following the Week 6 bye.
Do you think Mims could provide an impact down the road for the Steelers? When he's healthy, do you think he could replace a guy like Gunner Olszewski? Does this wide receiver room need more talent? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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