The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting for the results of the appeal from wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended two games by the NFL for his altercation with Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy that has since gone viral. He is currently eligible to return to the team after Week 18 so he can prepare for the postseason if Pittsburgh makes it there, or clean out his locker and go through exit interviews if it doesn't. There are a lot of factors of this appeal process, and it's one of the more interesting ones of the season.
CBS on NFL
DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers grabs a fan and aggressively confronts him during a professional football game in Detroit, MI.
Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has likely heard everything that fans would say during his 18-year career in the NFL. The horrible allegations he had in the middle of his tenure made everything worse on that front, even though he was never actually found guilty. He knows quite a bit about dealing with unruly people that would heckle him nonstop.
While recently on his show, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, he explained the Metcalf situation, what happens now that it happened, and what it means for the team as a whole moving forward.
"The thing that hurts the most is that DK [Metcalf]'s actions could potentially hurt the team. That's the biggest thing," Roethlisberger explained. "Him going there and being suspended for two games -- obviously he'll get a chance to appeal it and maybe get the one game... if you're going into the situations where these are two must-win [games] and we lose one of our better offensive weapons, then you're like, 'Hey man, you just hurt our team,' and that's where you just got to be aware and be better."
Luckily, the Steelers do not have two must-win games on the docket. However, a Week 17 win would confirm that Pittsburgh wins the AFC North, and it would then host a playoff game. The Cleveland Browns may be competing for a top pick, but they want nothing more than to embarrass their division rival. On top of that, it has been many years since the Black and Gold left Northern Ohio with a victory, so it's not like this was seen as an easy game to begin with.
David Richard / AP photo
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (#95) rushes the passer during a game against the Indianapolis Colts in Cleveland.
If the Baltimore Ravens win in Week 17 and the Steelers lose, Week 18 then becomes a do-or-die game. That would essentially be a playoff game before the postseason even begins. Losing Metcalf makes it a lot harder to beat a Browns team that has played well defensively, especially on home soil. The Ravens are almost always a tough matchup no matter the circumstances.
Steelers Lose A Lot With Metcalf Out
Of course, Metcalf has been underwhelming for most of the season, but he still had 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns in his first year in Pittsburgh. He is still a big-bodied speedy receiver that is very tough to guard. He can out-jump and out-reach most cornerbacks in the NFL, if not all of them. For his flaws, he is still a very dangerous weapon that opposing defenses have to focus on.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
In fact, the biggest thing that the Steelers will lose is Metcalf's ability to take on two defenders at once. The only way for opposing coaches to slow him down was to have a safety over the top so the veteran wouldn't get that one-on-one chance. Without him, there is no one that the Browns or Ravens will double-team all game, which allows for an extra blitzer or an extra body in zone coverage to take away some other reads and routes.
What do you think about Roethlisberger saying that Metcalf's decisions hurt the team? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation
