Steelers' Michael Pittman Jr Gets Alarming Return Projection As Crucial Stretch Approaches

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their bye week hoping some additional rest would bring them closer to having a healthy receiving corps. Pittsburgh's offense has managed to function despite missing several important pieces, but the upcoming schedule leaves considerably less room for error. Unfortunately, the latest projection from a Steelers insider suggests one of the team's biggest offseason acquisitions might be unavailable for longer than originally anticipated.

Michael Pittman Jr. is eligible to return from Injured Reserve (IR) this week after missing four consecutive games with a foot injury. However, the veteran receiver has yet to have his 21-day practice window opened, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Ray Fittipaldo believes fans should start looking further down the schedule.

During a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Fittipaldo identified two upcoming home games as more realistic possibilities for Pittman's return.

“Pittman obviously is eligible to come off this week. He's not going to play this week, may not play against the Eagles, but I think there is some hope that he could rejoin practice maybe within the next week or two and then ramp up to maybe get back for that Broncos game, or who's after the Broncos, the Texans. I think one of those two games is probably more realistic,” Fittipaldo said.

Pittsburgh hosts the Denver Broncos on Black Friday, November 27, before welcoming the Houston Texans to Acrisure Stadium on December 6. If Pittman doesn't return until the Houston game, he will have gone more than two months without appearing in an NFL contest.

There was an encouraging development Thursday when Pittman participated in warmups with his teammates. However, he wasn't wearing a helmet and remains on IR. It's certainly better than not seeing him on the field whatsoever, but there are still several steps between participating in warmups and playing meaningful offensive snaps.

The biggest complication appears to be Pittman's conditioning. Unlike fellow injured receiver Roman Wilson, who has been dealing with a finger injury, Pittman hasn't necessarily been able to maintain his normal cardiovascular routine throughout his recovery.

Fittipaldo explained why Head Coach Mike McCarthy will likely take a particularly cautious approach.

“With Pittman, it's much more different because he hasn't been able to keep up with his conditioning. And if you've seen what McCarthy has done with his guys, he's very deliberate with bringing those guys back from IR. He's very confident in the backups on his team, and he doesn't rush these things,” Fittipaldo said.

The Steelers acquired Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts in March and signed him to a new three-year contract. Through eight weeks, that investment has produced just seven receptions for 89 yards across three appearances. Pittsburgh obviously anticipated getting considerably more from a receiver who surpassed 1,000 receiving yards twice in Indianapolis.

McCarthy's patience makes sense from a long-term perspective. There's little benefit to activating Pittman prematurely if he can only handle a limited workload or risks aggravating the injury. However, the Steelers' decision to remain inactive at the trade deadline makes his prolonged absence considerably more concerning.

Fortunately, Pittsburgh could receive some assistance from Wilson much sooner. Fittipaldo also provided an encouraging update on Wilson, suggesting he could return against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Wilson's return would give Aaron Rodgers another legitimate receiving option while potentially reducing the workload placed on rookie Germie Bernard. Bernard has already caught 32 passes for 284 yards, nearly matching DK Metcalf in receptions through eight games.

Still, getting Wilson back doesn't eliminate the need for Pittman's experience and physical presence. Pittsburgh acquired him specifically to complement Metcalf, and Rodgers has barely had an opportunity to develop that relationship.

Steelers Could Face Two Elite Defenses Before Pittman Is Fully Ready

Even if Pittman returns against Denver, Pittsburgh will be asking a receiver coming off an extended absence to contribute following a short week of preparation. Houston presents another challenging defensive matchup just nine days later.

McCarthy should strongly consider gradually increasing Pittman's workload once he's activated. Expecting him to immediately play the majority of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps after such a lengthy absence would be asking quite a bit.

Fittipaldo emphasized that the Steelers still expect Pittman to return before the season concludes. That's encouraging, especially with Pittsburgh positioning itself for a potential postseason run.

However, every additional game Pittman misses increases the pressure on the rest of Pittsburgh's offense. The Steelers passed on several opportunities to acquire receiving help at the deadline, largely trusting the players already in their building.

Pittman might eventually reward that confidence. Unfortunately for Rodgers and the Steelers, they're going to have to remain patient while playing some of their most important football of the season.

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