The Pittsburgh Steelers have the Week 9 bye week to try and figure everything out about before the gauntlet in the back half of the schedule starts up. That includes final touches on schematics and maybe trading for players who can make the team better. General Manager Omar Khan is expected to be very active on the phone lines up until the trade deadline on November 10th hits. He may not get the top pick in the market, but he will definitely try, and odds are he won't walk away with nothing.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan talks on the phone before a 2024 NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The biggest expectation is the same as it has been in recent years: the Steelers are primarily looking for a wide receiver. They have had better play from that position in 2026, but injuries have been piling up there, with expected contributors like Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson being placed on Injured Reserve (IR). At the very least, Pittsburgh needs depth to avoid worst-case scenario.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler confirmed that the Steelers are very active in receiver market while making an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show recently. He also spoke about why one of the biggest names on the trade block would love to play for Pittsburgh at this point.
"Josh Downs, a wide receiver for example, he wants out," Fowler said. "He sees the writing on the wall, wants to go play for a Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City maybe, or an Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh."
It's odd that a young receiver would want to leave an unstable situation to go play for a quarterback that is known to struggle with young receivers, but that's where Josh Downs is at this point. It's clear that the Indianapolis Colts are in fire sale mode with how they traded two of their best players for pennies on the dollar, so the wideout is ready to get out of town as soon as possible, and go to a team that wants to win.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been better with his young receivers in 2026 at least, so there is some hope that Downs could continue to grow if he gets traded to Pittsburgh. Wilson was playing well before he got injured, and rookie Germie Bernard has been one of the best rookie pass-catchers in the NFL so far. The Colts' receiver would also be reunited with Pittman, his old teammate.
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Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard runs with the ball during a game against the Buccaneers in October 2026.
Downs was also watching from the Colts' sideline as he watched the Steelers put up 34 points against his team, with Rodgers throwing for three touchdowns in that Week 5 contest. Even when Wilson got injured in that game, the 42-year-old found a way to dish the ball out to other targets like Bernard and Pat Freiermuth, with the tight end hauling in a pair of touchdowns. That would be an ideal destination for Downs.
Steelers' Role For Downs If They Trade For Him
The good news for Downs is that he won't be the one that has to carry the wide receiver room like he had to in Indianapolis after Alec Pierce got injured. He will essentially assume Wilson and/or Bernard's roles: a rotational piece that can play outside or in the slot if needed to help keep everyone fresh throughout the game. With opposing defenses focusing on Bernard and DK Metcalf, the Colts' receiver could get open if he were in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers likely won't have to pay a fortune to get him, based on his status as a rental and pending free agent, as well as the Colts shipping off much better players at depressed value. The projected low trade compensation would help Pittsburgh ease Downs in slowly and get him used to the offense, as opposed to needing him to step up immediately if it gave up a Day 2 pick to acquire him.
What do you think about Downs wanting to play with Rodgers and the Steelers as the trade deadline nears? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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