Steelers' Quiet Deadline Could Be 'Disheartening' For Locker Room, Todd Haley Warns

The Pittsburgh Steelers have done a great job of navigating through injuries to get themselves to a 6-2 record and have a chance to sit in the driver's seat in the AFC North division with a win this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite that, many felt that the team could have used help at the trade deadline. Former offensive coordinator Todd Haley is someone who truly believes that too. The NFL trade deadline came and went, however, and the organization did not add anyone to the current roster. He feels that this decision could be sending a dangerous message to the 2026 team.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one player that has helped Head Coach Mike McCarthy navigate through injuries in eight games played in 2026. However, they still could have made a move at the trade deadline to add depth at the wide receiver position. Despite the team hoping to get Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson healthy soon, they had a couple of different names they could have traded for to acquire depth.

Haley appeared Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh shortly after the deadline. During the appearance, he was asked specifically about what type of message the franchise could be sending by not acquiring help. While he does feel it is a strong locker room led by edge rusher TJ Watt and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, he believes it could send a dangerous message due to what happened around the league.

“Team chemistry is a really important thing, but you got to have talent,” Haley said. “The Steelers have a strong locker room. As long as Cam Heyward is there, as long as TJ Watt is there, they’ll do a great job at integrating anybody into it. It’s probably got to be a little disheartening when you see other teams that are good teams with similar records adding pieces and you haven’t done anything.”

The one thing Haley said that holds true is how strong the locker room is, especially with the leadership of their two veterans on defense. However, given their veteran leadership, it would have been a welcome sight to see them add depth at a position of need. That leadership proves that the locker room could adapt and welcome someone externally into the plans they have to achieve their goals in the 2026 season.

The front office will now have to hope that this 2026 team keeps beating adversity like they have through their first eight games before their bye week this season. They have been able to weather the storm of injuries at wide receiver largely in part to the success running back Jaylen Warren is having this season. Through those eight games, he has rushed for 704 yards, good for a career-high 5.9 yards per attempt.

Steelers Will Have To Win With The Roster They Already Have

Despite the struggle the Steelers have seen in the passing game, they are still around the middle of the NFL as they rank 19th with 210.5 yards per game. This has been largely due to their ways of including Warren in the passing game and getting tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington involved with injuries at wide receiver. Rodgers is also the type of quarterback that can find a way to get others involved given his NFL experience of over 20 years.

Despite the obvious struggles in the passing game, McCarthy's group has found a way to get hot and are coming off their bye week on a four-game winning streak. Whether or not they should have added to their current roster is something only time can tell. However, with the way they were able to battle through injuries, the team proved to their front office that they are worthy of adding reinforcements like they saw happen with other AFC contenders.

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