The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their Week 8 contest at home against the Green Bay Packers hoping to get back in the win column. Following a 33-31 Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers were looking for a bounce-back performance against Green Bay.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers rolls out with the football while Head Coach Mike Tomlin watches on during training camp.
At halftime, it looked like the Steelers were on pace to engineer a gritty, classic Steeler football home win. Pittsburgh went into the break up 16-7 and had the ball to start the second half, an ideal situation for Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin to control the game and secure a victory. However, the defense struggled mightily, giving up 454 yards of total offense to the Packers.
With the defense continuing to struggle, many are questioning whether the Steelers should even make a move for a wide receiver anymore, especially with the trade deadline rapidly approaching. All eyes are on General Manager Omar Khan to see if he can add another offensive weapon for Aaron Rodgers. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Steelers remain hopeful they can acquire an exciting new target for Rodgers before the trade deadline on November 4th.
"I think in a perfect world, the Steelers would like to add some offensive playmakers. Preferably, a wide receiver if one is available before the trade deadline," Schefter said while speaking on SportsCenter on Monday. "The fact of the matter is the Steelers are looking for more playmakers on the offensive side of the football."
An interesting note from the quote out of Schefter is that he specifically mentioned playmakers. This leaves open the question of what exact position the Steelers are targeting in a potential trade. Obviously, the wide receiver spot will continue to be at the center of trade talks. Pittsburgh has a clear need for offensive weapons, especially after trading George Pickens, and adding a proven receiver could help Rodgers immediately.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf smile as they talk during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers offense has DK Metcalf but many pundits have strong concerns that they need more than just him in that room. However, with the way this offense has performed recently, not everyone is convinced that a wide receiver trade is necessary. The team’s struggles on both sides of the ball have raised questions about whether adding another pass-catcher would even make a meaningful difference.
Steelers' Defense Is Seriously Holding Aaron Rodgers Back In 2025
This is especially true if the defense cannot slow down opposing offenses. It doesn’t matter how strong the offense is if the defense continues to get beaten week after week in the same ways. The Steelers’ front office faces a difficult balancing act between upgrading the offense and addressing the team’s defensive shortcomings.
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Steelers' star edge rusher TJ Watt and Head Coach Mike Tomlin communicate with one another on the sideline during a professional football game on the road.
The main concern with the Steelers’ defense is what they can actually do. Despite having stars like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and Patrick Queen, this unit keeps getting gashed the same way every game. On Sunday night, Jordan Love completed virtually every pass with little pressure, and Packers tight end Tucker Kraft caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. The defense simply couldn’t stop him.
This shows that the Steelers struggle to adjust, both in real time and over the long term. Adding a wide receiver could help the offense, but it won’t fix a defense that continues to give up big plays and hold the team back. Still, many Steelers fans are going to be happy to hear that Khan is trying to get help on offense.
Do you feel as if the Steelers' General Manager Omar Khan needs to make a trade happen on offense? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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