The Pittsburgh Steelers finally put forth a good offensive performance on Sunday as the team put up 30 points against the Cincinnati Bengals at home. This was an important game for the offensive side of the ball in Pittsburgh as the unit was able to instill some confidence in the group before traveling to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, which will be a game that decides who is at the top of the AFC North for the time being. The Steelers put together a well-rounded offensive performance, but there was one player that was clearly not a big focal point of the game plan.
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Steelers' DK Metcalf scores a touchdown during a home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026.
It is no secret that wide receiver DK Metcalf has struggled mightily to begin the 2026 season. The drops were a major issue for the veteran throughout the first two games of the season, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Head Coach Mike McCarthy continued to speak highly of the receiver. They each insisted that Metcalf would continue to be fed in the passing game, but that did not happen on Sunday against the Bengals. The ball was spread around much more than it was in recent weeks, which clearly worked for the Steelers as the offense was able to keep the defense of Cincinnati on its toes.
Beat writer Gerry Dulac went on Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on Monday, and he noted that the Steelers didn't seem to look Metcalf's way nearly as much in the passing game. The way the game was played and the way Metcalf was used was a complete contradiction of what was said by Rodgers and McCarthy earlier in the week.
"Not a lot of targets to DK Metcalf," Dulac said. "I know he caught the touchdown, but I thought that was what was important, nine different receivers. Don't just feed DK Metcalf because they are going to try and take him away so you better find alternate routes, and obviously he wanted to throw to the tight ends. Tight ends always do well against the Bengals."
Metcalf finished the game against Cincinnati with three receptions for 31 yards and a score while being targeted five times. Five targets is not bad at all, but for a WR1 making as much money as he is, he should probably be expected to see a few more. In Week 1 he was targeted 10 times, and he was then targeted nine times against the New England Patriots.
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Steelers' DK Metcalf gets into it with Dexter Lawrence during a home win over the Bengals in 2026.
Metcalf wasn't too productive when it came to yards or any other major statistic, but he did make a pair of big plays for the Steelers. He scored a touchdown at the end of the third quarter to give the Steelers the lead, and then he also caught a 14-yard pass to move the chains on what wound up being the game-winning drive for Pittsburgh. The Steelers were behind the sticks due to a holding call he committed the play before, but he managed to make up for it.
Steelers' DK Metcalf Will Continue To Be Used Heavily
Rodgers didn't target Metcalf as much on Sunday, but that can be attributed to the fact that the Bengals do have a good amount of talent at cornerback. DJ Turner II is one of the more underrated players in the league, especially on the defensive side of the ball. This made it easier to take advantage of the tight ends underneath, and the Steelers could also rely on the running game in the win. Metcalf will probably become more of a focal point of the offense moving forward, but that might not be the case on Thursday night as he will be covered by Denzel Ward throughout the contest. The Steelers spread the ball around a lot on Sunday, and that might be the key to success for Pittsburgh.
What do you think about Metcalf's usage moving forward? Do you think he will see more targets? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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