Embarrassing Revelation Details Why Steelers' Omar Khan Refuses To Trade For Another Wide Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered a Week 5 bye in great shape within the tough AFC North division. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have been decimated by injuries, while the Cleveland Browns sit at 1-3 without much going on when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. It's going to be interesting to see how the rest of the season transpires, but the team in the Steel City could still use some help when it comes to playmakers at Aaron Rodgers' disposal. Things seem to be even more pressing after an injury to wide receiver Calvin Austin III.

While Austin's injury isn't expected to be a long-term problem for the Steelers' offense, it wouldn't hurt Pittsburgh to acquire another pass-catching option as a whole, regardless. Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith haven't played at a very high level, and DK Metcalf can't do it all every week like he did against the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland.

General Manager Omar Khan has been very aggressive during his tenure as the organization's front office lead, but has been relatively quiet since the blockbuster trade that brought Smith to Pittsburgh in late June. On Thursday, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Ray Fittipaldo joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller to discuss the possibility of the Steelers trading for Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Tim Patrick, or another potential acquisition.

"The other vibe I got was they're having a hard enough time feeding Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth. I just think adding another guy to the mix, even if Austin is out for a couple games, I just think it would complicated things, especially if it's just another guy," Fittipaldo said. "You know, [Tim] Patrick at this point in his career, or pretty much anyone you're going to get for a late-round pick is going to be just another guy."

Fittipaldo does make a good point overall, but the key word he used early in his analysis was that he is getting that "vibe" from the franchise. Pittsburgh doesn't really have a dynamic offense just yet, and bringing someone in during October or later could make things more difficult. In essence, the Steelers may not be looking to acquire another playmaker because there isn't enough trust within the scheme to get the current guys the ball at a consistent enough rate.

Things can change at any moment, but it does seem as if Pittsburgh has enough talent on the offensive end. The main issue has been getting the ball into the hands of the most dynamic individuals. If trading for someone just to trade for someone was on the agenda, it might make things worse in the locker room. The problem with that notion is that it would indirectly imply that the Steelers' decision-makers don't think the current group is meshing just yet.

Metcalf had a breakout game in Week 4, but several other players have yet to really gel with Rodgers under center. It takes time for a group with so many new faces to be clicking on all cylinders, and due to the team's 3-1 start, it may not make sense internally to go out and acquire someone. This could change if Austin misses a couple of games and no one is stepping up in the receiving game for Rodgers.

Steelers Are In No Rush To Make Big Changes After Positive Start To 2025 Season

Despite not looking phenomenal in any of the four games, Pittsburgh has placed itself in the driver's seat in the AFC North. If the belief is that a bye week and another pregame preparation period will help the unit come together, there is no reason for Khan and co. to explore a trade just yet. It is a little unsettling if the front office is hesitant to move on a potential deal, however, because there isn't even trust in the group as it stands entering Week 5.

Do you think the Steelers need to make a trade for another offensive weapon? Let us know in the comments below!

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