Pittsburgh Steelers In Wide Receiver Market During Bye Week At 6-2
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a wide receiver, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday. The two reporters also identified the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers as teams interested in acquiring a wideout.
Pittsburgh (6-2) is on its bye after a 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. The Steelers have won four straight and lead the AFC North, with the last-place Baltimore Ravens 2.5 games back.
Mike McCarthy’s Receiver Room Thinned By Injuries
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, who coached the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2024, is working with a short-handed receiver group around quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are both on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh acquired Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts in March to pair with DK Metcalf, and a foot injury has since sidelined him. Rookie Germie Bernard, a 2026 second-round pick, has taken on a larger role with Pittman and Wilson out.
Steelers Linked To Josh Downs And Brian Thomas Jr.
FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano reported this week that the Steelers and Chiefs are interested in Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, who requested a trade Oct. 28. Downs, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has 30 receptions for 330 yards and 1 touchdown in eight games this season.
The Colts have told other teams they already received an offer of a fourth-round pick for Downs, Rapoport and Schefter reported Saturday. Indianapolis initially asked for a third-rounder. Pittsburgh does not own a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported last week that the Steelers, Chiefs, and Washington Commanders all have interest in discussing a deal for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.. Jacksonville has declined to move Thomas thus far, Rapoport and Schefter reported. He has 10 receptions for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns through eight games, one season removed from an 87-catch, 1,282-yard rookie campaign.
The trade deadline is 3 p.m. CT Tuesday. The Steelers return from their bye in Week 10.
