The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to take down the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night in Week 18 to clinch the AFC North and a spot in the postseason. Pittsburgh will now host the Houston Texans on Monday night at the end of Wild Card Weekend, and the offense is going to be getting star wide receiver DK Metcalf back in the lineup for that matchup. The receiver missed the last two contests, and the offense had some clear struggles without him on the field -- mainly in the passing game. His return is going to be huge, and the team probably would have already clinched a playoff spot if it weren't for his suspension.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf running past a Lions defender during a Week 16 win in Detroit.
Metcalf was notably suspended following Pittsburgh's Week 16 win while playing the Detroit Lions in Michigan. He got into an altercation with a fan behind the Steelers bench, and it was announced that week that he would be suspended for the rest of the regular season. Pittsburgh just needed to win in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns to clinch the AFC North, or have the Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers, but neither of those things happened. This turned the Week 18 matchup into a championship game, and Pittsburgh would be without its best wide receiver.
The other wide receivers on the roster were doubted going into this game, especially with how things went in Cleveland. Calvin Austin III was asked if Metcalf had any messages for the group during his media scrum after the game, and he shared that the wide receiver texted his group on the morning of the game.
"He just wanted us to know that we have everything we need. Just go out there and play how we do," Austin said. "At the end of the day, we've got a deep receiver group. We got guys that can make plays. It's just awesome that we can make enough plays to win this game and get DK back next week."
Metcalf is now set to return for Pittsburgh in the playoffs, and he will officially be reinstated on Monday. This will allow him to return to the facility and to practice, which is something he was not allowed anywhere near over the last two weeks. He was allowed to communicate with his teammates, but he could not workout in the facility, be in meetings, or be anywhere near the team during the workday.
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Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) alongside Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Metcalf has proven to be a great leader throughout the 2025 season, and a text message like that on the morning of an important game proves that. Every member of the national and local media was doubting Pittsburgh's wide receivers going into this game, but some guys stepped up in big ways. Austin scored what wound up being the game-winning touchdown while Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined for eight catches. Guys stepped up, and now that group will look to continue to contribute once Metcalf returns to the lineup in the postseason.
Steelers' DK Metcalf Must Feel Relieved After Steelers Clinched The AFC North
After things went the way that they did in Week 17 and the AFC North title game was setup for Week 18, Metcalf's suspension was a bit magnified. Pittsburgh was on the brink of losing the division and missing the playoffs, and the wide receiver would likely be blamed for a lot of that, as he was suspended for his own actions two weeks prior. It was the most important time of the season, and Metcalf messed up.
CBS Sports
Steelers' DK Metcalf looks on during a game at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL season.
Thankfully the wide receiver does not have to wait a full offseason to redeem himself. He will be back on the field against Houston, and he will be looking to make some big plays.
What did you think of Metcalf's message to the wide receivers? Let us know in the comments below!
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