Steelers' WR Problem Got A Lot Worse With Latest Michael Pittman Jr Report

The Pittsburgh Steelers secured a much-needed win on Sunday as the team took down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. The game was a lot uglier than it needed to be, but the group got the win in overtime to mark Pittsburgh's first road win of the 2026 season. This is also the first time that the Steelers have won back to back games on the year, which is a significant achievement. Life in the NFL is all about stacking days, and that is what the Steelers have been doing over the last two weeks. The back to back wins are even more impressive when considering the injuries the team has had to deal with.

The Steelers have fought through some obstacles early on this year. The secondary is beat up, and the franchise had to deal with all of the drama surrounding the Joey Porter Jr. situation. On offense, the wide receiver room is growing extremely thin. Michael Pittman Jr. has been dealing with a foot injury for quite some time now and was placed on Injured Reserve (IR), while Roman Wilson was also placed on IR after suffering an injury in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. Ben Skowronek is also dealing with a soft tissue injury, but he has not been placed on IR which suggests he should be back soon.

Pittman was acquired via trade and then extended during the 2026 offseason, so it is pretty disappointing to see him go down after having a pretty clean bill of health throughout the majority of his career. Fans have been expecting him back after his IR stint, but it might not be that simple. Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday to discuss the health of the wide receiver.

"Honestly, I just get bad vibes that Pittman is coming back," Kaboly said. "I mean he very well could, but if he needs surgery he could be out for the year, and I don't know if they're waiting to see how that plays out."

This conversation originated with Kaboly talking about whether or not the franchise should be looking for external help at wide receiver, and he seems worried that Pittman could be out for the remainder of the year. This would make the organization more desperate at wide receiver, which should make them more likely to find another receiver on the open market or via trade.

Pittman was expected to be a major contributor for the offense in 2026, but his foot injury has hampered those plans quite a bit. If surgery is necessary it seems like there is no chance of him returning to the field anytime soon. Kaboly was asked again if he thinks there is a real chance the veteran could miss the year.

"Well, I think definitely," Kaboly said. "He's been dealing with this since July and it hasn't gotten better. He's only in a boot now, he's not in a scooter anymore, but he is still walking like me and Mike McCarthy. It doesn't feel good. It doesn't seem like he is close. I know he has a couple more weeks before a decision can even be made, but if it's surgery, he's out for the season."

The veteran is under contract in Pittsburgh through the 2028 season, so it might be important for him to just get the surgery now so he can come back healthy for the 2027 season. The Steelers are going to have to find a way to try and make it through the year without him if he gets ruled out, which means the team may be active on the trade market.

Steelers Have A Reliable Replacement For Michael Pittman Jr.

With Pittman being injured and Wilson going down, Germie Bernard has been thrust into a huge role on the offense. The rookie has been amazing for the Steelers as he has caught 17 passes over the last two weeks. He also scored the game-winning touchdown against the Buccaneers in overtime. He has shown that he can be trusted, and he should continue to improve in Pittman's absence.

What do you think about this revelation surrounding Pittman? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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