Steelers' Solution To Passing Game Struggles Runs Deeper Than Acquiring A Wide Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a four-game winning streak and lead the AFC North heading into their bye week. Vibes are high in the Steel City, with the Steelers boasting one of the NFL's best offenses and defenses. Pittsburgh has been running the ball at will, while also stopping it effortlessly. Things may be going well, but the passing game has been alarming at times over this four-game stretch, and the fix is complicated. 

The Steelers have the NFL's oldest quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and at 42, he isn't the team's biggest issue in the air attack. Rodgers is far from perfect, but his wide receivers aren't helping. The hot topic in Pittsburgh has been acquiring a wide receiver via trade to help Rodgers and the offense, but their biggest issue is their "star" player. 

DK Metcalf was acquired via trade from the Seattle Seahawks last offseason and has so far been a bust. Metcalf got a pass from fans in 2025 because it was his first year in black and gold, and he had a lack of threats to complement him. However, in 2026, he looks even worse, with drops being a major issue. Even if Pittsburgh acquires another pass-catcher, Metcalf will still be looked at as the number one target. 

Christopher Carter of the Post-Gazette recently appeared on 93.7 The Fan morning show, hosted by Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson, where they posed him a question. Crowley asked True or false: it's more important for Metcalf to get his head out of his a** than it is for the Steelers to get another wide receiver. 

"It's true because here's the thing: you can get another receiver, and they won't be as good as DK Metcalf when he's playing well, and you saw that last year," Carter stated. "There were games where he was just able to take over. That first Ravens game, when he was on the field, made all the difference." 

Pittsburgh made an effort this offseason to add to their wide receiver room with the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard. While Bernard has been solid in his role, they didn't account for Pittman's injury, and they also didn't account for Metcalf struggling as much as he is. 

Even if Pittsburgh goes out and acquires a player like Josh Downs or Brian Thomas Jr., they'll still need Metcalf to catch the ball and get open against man coverage, and we've seen neither happen consistently this season. So while a new pass catcher would help Rodgers out, it still wouldn't fix their biggest issue. 

On offense, Mike McCarthy and Rodgers aren't playing to the big receivers' strengths. Metcalf is a big threat who plays small, and Rodgers insists on throwing him fades multiple times a game, where he rarely comes up big. If Pittsburgh wants to get more out of their $132 million man, better usage might be the answer. 

Steelers Should Re-Think Their Usage Of Metcalf

Rodgers has thrown to superstar wide receiver Davante Adams for so long that it seems he's trying to use Metcalf the same way. Adams is an excellent route runner who's great at the catch point. Metcalf is great off slants and middle routes that let him take off on defenders. 

Perhaps, rather than trying to force a fade ball to his star wide receiver, Rodgers should look to hit Metcalf more over the middle. Even if it doesn't work, playing to Metcalf's strengths is something the coaching staff has rarely done this season and could help break him out of this slump. 

McCarthy and the offensive staff have been mostly great this season, but their usage of Metcalf has certainly been one of their weak points. However, there is still plenty of time to fix their mistakes. Hopefully, over the bye week, Metcalf and Rodgers can build some cohesion and get things going on Sunday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

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