Steelers Could Get A Rare Second Chance At Brandon Aiyuk

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Tuesday's deadline needing receiving help and emerged without a trade. That might not be the final word on adding a recognizable name. One Pittsburgh insider believes a former blockbuster target could still become available, with a way to test the idea before committing an active roster spot. The catch? Pittsburgh would be buying considerably more uncertainty than it wanted back in 2024.

Brandon Aiyuk is approaching a possible split with the San Francisco 49ers, opening a door the Steelers nearly walked through two summers ago. Pittsburgh came close to acquiring Aiyuk before San Francisco signed him to a four-year, $120 million extension. Now the situation is considerably messier, and the asking price could be nothing more than a practice-squad contract.

Ray Fittipaldo raised that possibility during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, revisiting a pursuit that dominated much of Pittsburgh's 2024 offseason.

“They had a lot of interest in Aiyuk a couple of years ago. We all know that. That didn't come to fruition,” Fittipaldo said.

The circumstances explain why a receiver once worth a major trade package might now need an audition. Aiyuk hasn't played since October 20, 2024, when he suffered significant ligament damage in his right knee against the Kansas City Chiefs. He missed the entire 2025 season and remained away from San Francisco amid a dispute over his rehabilitation obligations. The 49ers voided $27 million in guarantees, and the sides remain at odds over approximately $13 million in potentially forfeited bonuses.

This week brought movement. The NFL reinstated Aiyuk on November 9 and granted San Francisco a roster exemption through November 23. San Francisco's leadership has said it doesn't expect him to play there again. But Aiyuk remains under contract, and a release has not been announced.

Fittipaldo sees an opportunity if another interested club doesn't sign him first.

“Let's say for whatever reason, Los Angeles doesn't make that move. The Steelers can get him on the practice squad and just look at him, see where he is post-injury, see if he's a good guy or bad guy in the locker room, take three or four weeks to evaluate him. Then boom, maybe you do have something come December,” Fittipaldo said.

That timeline is the appeal. Pittsburgh's receiving group still has questions behind DK Metcalf, with Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson recovering from injuries. Aiyuk could practice, get reacquainted with NFL conditioning and learn the offense without being asked to rescue Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

For Rodgers, knowing a receiver can run is only half the problem. His throws often depend on both players reading coverage the same way. Aiyuk has never played with him, so those weeks could be every bit as important for timing as they are for proving his knee can hold up.

The rules allow teams to carry up to six veterans with unlimited accrued seasons on a practice squad. Once released, however, Aiyuk would be subject to the waiver process because the trade deadline has passed. Another team could claim his contract first, and Aiyuk would still have to accept a practice-squad offer.

His agent says Aiyuk passed a physical and has been running routes. That's encouraging, but it doesn't establish whether the receiver can handle full-contact football at his previous level. The last healthy version produced 75 receptions for 1,342 yards in 2023 and earned second-team All-Pro honors. That's history, not a current scouting report.

Fittipaldo doesn't believe that history justifies an immediate active-roster commitment.

“I'm not just going to sign him off the street to the 53-man roster when he hasn't played in, what, two seasons. There's no way I'm doing it,” Fittipaldo said.

Steelers Have An Audition Worth Considering, With Limits

General Manager Omar Khan passed on receiver trades rather than surrender valuable draft capital. A low-cost look at Aiyuk would preserve that flexibility while giving Pittsburgh another option for December. However, the process matters. The medical staff would need to evaluate his knee, the coaches would need to judge his conditioning, and the team would have to see how he responds to daily expectations after a difficult exit from San Francisco.

There's a human part to this, too. Aiyuk's agent expects him to play this season and believes he'll land with a familiar organization. A practice-squad offer may not be his preferred route. Pittsburgh also shouldn't confuse a famous name with a dependable third-down option for Rodgers.

The Steelers missed out on Aiyuk when he was among football's most productive receivers. They may get a chance to revisit the conversation when his future is far less certain. If he's released and clears waivers, there's little harm in investigating a workout. The mistake would be pretending the 2023 version is waiting to walk through the door.

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