Steelers Get Uncomfortable Warning About What Their Offense Still Lacks

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the offseason making their offense deeper rather than simply searching for one player to fix everything. They added another proven receiver, paired two productive running backs and surrounded Aaron Rodgers with enough different skill sets to attack defenses in several ways. That variety looks good on a depth chart. How Pittsburgh uses it may ultimately matter much more than which individual name sits at the top.

Team insider Christopher Carter does not believe Pittsburgh currently has an offensive skill player who can consistently take over a game regardless of how a defense chooses to handle him. During a recent discussion, Carter argued that the Steelers have assembled several good-to-very-good weapons, but their lack of one truly unstoppable centerpiece makes offensive balance particularly important.

“As good as he is, I do not think DK Metcalf is like the Antonio Brown-type that can take over a game all by himself… We saw last year when DK Metcalf was double-teamed, made life a bit hard on the Steelers' offense… As good as [Jaylen] Warren and [Rico] Dowdle are, I don’t think either of those guys are guys that anyone’s putting in the top-five running back conversation. So just across the board, there’s good and proficient guys, but not elite guys,” Carter said.

That assessment is less insulting to Pittsburgh's talent than it initially sounds. DK Metcalf remains one of the NFL's most physically imposing receivers and finished his first season with the Steelers with 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns. The problem Carter identified showed up whenever defenses could devote extra resources toward removing him. Without enough consistent punishment elsewhere, Pittsburgh occasionally allowed the opponent's coverage plan to dictate too much of the afternoon.

That is one reason acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. mattered so much. Pittsburgh no longer needs Metcalf to solve every difficult passing situation himself. Pittman can win in different areas of the field, while second-round rookie Germie Bernard gives Mike McCarthy another movable target whose responsibilities have expanded throughout the offseason. The same argument applies in the backfield.

Jaylen Warren produced career highs with 958 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in 2025 while adding another 333 yards as a receiver. Rico Dowdle arrives after consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including 1,076 yards for Carolina last year. Neither needs to become Derrick Henry for the arrangement to work. Pittsburgh needs their combined production to make defenses regret allocating too much attention elsewhere. Carter believes that is the entire formula.

“The way to win with a group of good, to really good players, and not elite guys, is to have that balance so that no one can be focused on so much by the defense that they’re taken out of the game without someone else hurting the defense because they commit to that. And that, to me, is going to be the key in this game. Striking that right balance,” Carter said.

Pittsburgh already has the personnel to test that theory. If a defense rolls additional coverage toward Metcalf, Pittman and Bernard have to make the lighter attention more expensive. If safeties begin widening or playing deeper to limit the receivers, Warren and Dowdle should see cleaner numbers in the box. If linebackers become too aggressive against the run, Pittsburgh has three veteran tight ends capable of working the space those defenders abandon.

That does not require every player to receive an equal number of touches. Balance is not handing the football to Warren 15 times because Metcalf received 15 targets. It is forcing a defense to respect enough possibilities that taking away one option creates an obvious consequence somewhere else.

McCarthy's roster construction helps. Pittsburgh kept Warren and Dowdle as its two conventional backs, six wide receivers and three veteran tight ends on the initial 53-man roster. The offense has enough variety to move between heavier personnel and spread formations without relying on one player to make every difficult play.

That might be especially important for Rodgers. A veteran quarterback who diagnoses matchups quickly does not need to spend an afternoon force-feeding one star simply because he is the biggest name available. If a defense is determined to double Metcalf, Rodgers can take the easier answer until the coverage is forced to change.

Pittsburgh's running back setup provides a good example. Warren and Dowdle can both run, catch and stay on the field across different situations. That prevents the Steelers from telegraphing exactly what they intend to do based solely on which back enters the huddle.

Steelers Need Everyone To Make Someone Else Better

Carter's concern becomes a problem only if Pittsburgh starts playing as though one player must rescue the offense. Metcalf can still have monster afternoons. Warren can take over a game when his running style starts wearing down a defense. Dowdle has already produced consecutive 200-yard scrimmage performances during his career. Pittman, Bernard and the tight ends can all become featured pieces depending on the matchup. The advantage is not knowing which one must do it before kickoff.

If Atlanta spends Sunday determined to prevent Metcalf from beating it deep, Pittsburgh has to accept the invitation elsewhere rather than continuously attacking the strength of the coverage. If the Falcons commit extra bodies to Warren and Dowdle, Rodgers needs to make them survive against the passing game.

There may not be an Antonio Brown-level weapon on this roster capable of rendering the defensive plan irrelevant. Carter believes Pittsburgh's answer is making sure the defensive plan can never focus on only one person anyway.

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