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Adam Thielen Adam Thielen Scooped up by Pittsburgh
Tue, Dec 2, 2025, 3:31 PM
The Steelers claimed Thielen off waivers from the Vikings on Tuesday, Teresa Varley of Pittsburgh's official site reports.
Analysis: The oldest active receiver in the NFL, the 35-year-old Thielen didn't appear to have much juice left during his second stint in Minnesota earlier this season. He managed just eight receptions for 69 yards on 18 targets in 11 appearances before the Vikings made him a healthy inactive for this past Sunday's loss to Seattle. After requesting and being granted his release, Thielen has caught on with a Steelers team lacking in quality receiver depth beyond No. 1 option DK Metcalf, so he could have an immediate opportunity to push the likes of Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek for reps. Though he'll benefit from an upgrade in quarterback play in Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers under center, Thielen is still unlikely to see enough of a jump in his production in his new locale to warrant much fantasy interest. |
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Pat Freiermuth Pat Freiermuth Not targeted against Buffalo
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 12:25 PM
Freiermuth wasn't targeted during Sunday's 26-7 loss to Buffalo.
Analysis: Freiermuth played just 40 percent of the team's offensive snaps Sunday, which ranked third among the team's tight ends. Although he had recorded double-digit receiving yards in each of his last seven appearances, he was held without a target for just the second time this season in Sunday's Week 13 loss. Across 12 games this season, Freiermuth has secured 26 of 32 targets for 298 yards and four touchdowns. |
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Jonnu Smith Jonnu Smith Logs six receiving yards in loss
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 12:18 PM
Smith secured one of two targets for six yards during Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Smith was on the field for 53 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps Sunday, which ranked second among the team's tight ends, as Darnell Washington played 79 percent, while Pat Freiermuth played 40 percent. However, Smith's work in the passing game remained limited, and he's now secured five of nine targets for just 31 yards while rushing twice for seven yards across his last four appearances. |
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Roman Wilson Roman Wilson Held without catch once again
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 12:09 PM
Wilson failed to secure his lone target during Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Wilson had double-digit receiving yards in five of six appearances following the Steelers' Week 5 bye, but he's failed to secure any of his four targets over the past two games. Over his 12 appearances this season, Wilson has secured 12 of 21 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns. |
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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin No catches against Buffalo
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 11:54 AM
Austin failed to secure either of his two targets during Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Austin has had limited production for most of the season, but Sunday's Week 13 loss marked the first time this year that he was held without a catch. Across 10 appearances this year, he's secured 26 of 44 targets for 278 yards and two touchdowns. |
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Kaleb Johnson Kaleb Johnson Two carries in Week 13
Mon, Dec 1, 2025, 11:50 AM
Johnson rushed twice for three yards during Sunday's 26-7 loss to Buffalo.
Analysis: Johnson didn't take the field during last week's loss to Chicago, and he played just three offensive snaps during Sunday's Week 13 matchup. The Steelers have continued to deploy Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as their top two running backs, and Johnson is unlikely to have a fantasy-relevant role late in the year as long as those two remain healthy. Johnson has appeared in just eight games this season, rushing 24 times for 61 yards while securing one of two targets for nine yards. |
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DK Metcalf DK Metcalf Struggles continue
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 9:32 PM
Metcalf recorded three receptions on five targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills.
Analysis: Metcalf continues to lead the Steelers in targets, but that wasn't particularly meaningful in Sunday's loss, given that the team attempted only 24 passes. His longest gain of the day was a 14-yard catch early in the second quarter to help set up the only touchdown of the game, and he's now gone five consecutive matchups without a reception of at least 20 yards. In that same span, Metcalf's highest yardage total in a game is 49 yards. |
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Kenneth Gainwell Kenneth Gainwell Limited role in loss
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 9:21 PM
Gainwell rushed the ball five times for 20 yards in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills. He added two receptions on three targets for 25 yards.
Analysis: The Steelers played from behind for the entire second half, which should have benefited Gainwell in his role as the primary pass catcher out of the backfield. However, Pittsburgh managed only 21 offensive plays in the final two quarters, limiting the volume for all of their skill-position players. Gainwell will continue to have a key role in the offense, but he's a boom-or-bust fantasy option given the unit's inability to consistently move the ball. |
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Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren Saves day with score
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 9:03 PM
Warren rushed the ball 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills. He added two receptions on four targets for nine yards.
Analysis: The Steelers' offense wasn't able to get anything going on the ground or through the air, though Warren did manage to record their only touchdown of the day on a one-yard plunge midway through the second quarter. He otherwise was limited to a long gain of 12 yards to turn in his second-lowest yardage total of the campaign. Positively, Warren has four touchdowns in his five games after tallying only one in his first six contests. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Struggles in return
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 8:52 PM
Rodgers completed 10 of 21 passes for 117 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills. He had one rush for zero yards and lost a fumble.
Analysis: Rodgers returned from a one-game absence caused by a broken left wrist and played with a cast to guard the injury. He was as ineffective as his stat line indicates, as he led only one touchdown drive on a short field that was capped by a rushing score from Jaylen Warren. Rodgers also had a game-changing mistake to begin the second half, when he was sacked and fumbled, which was returned by the Bills for a touchdown. He also suffered a nose injury on the play, which forced him to miss one drive. Rodgers should be the starter heading into a pivotal Week 14 matchup against the Ravens, but he's now gone four straight games with only one touchdown and three straight matchups with under 165 passing yards. |
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Scotty Miller Scotty Miller Healthy scratch Week 13
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 2:19 PM
Miller (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Analysis: Miller has played in each of the Steelers' last two games after missing three games due to a broken finger. He's been used sparingly in the offense since his return and won't take the field Sunday, which opens the door for Ke'Shawn Williams and Ben Skowronek to see more work on offense. Miller's next chance to play is Week 14 against the Ravens on Sunday, Dec. 7. |
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Will Howard Will Howard Available as emergency QB
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 2:10 PM
Howard (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Bills, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Analysis: The rookie quarterback would need starter Aaron Rodgers and backup Mason Rudolph to be unable to play due to injury, illness or ejection to get into the game. Howard was activated off injured reserve Nov. 12 after dealing with a fractured right hand, and he's been behind Rodgers and Rudolph ever since. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Some limitations
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 11:13 AM
Rodgers (wrist) will likely not line up under center in Sunday's game against the Bills, instead being deployed in shotgun and pistol formations, Jay Glazer reported on Fox NFL Sunday.
Analysis: The idea behind this is that Rodgers will have less impact receiving the snap in his injured left wrist. This limitation might not be as significant as it might seem, because Rodgers already often is in shotgun or the pistol, more than other starting quarterbacks. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Playing through three fractures
Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 9:12 AM
Rodgers will start Sunday's game against the Bills but will be playing through three non-displaced fractures in his left wrist, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Rodgers suffered the injury in the Steelers' Week 11 win over the Bengals and was forced to miss his first game of the season in last Sunday's loss to the Bears, though he appeared to make a strong bid to be available for that contest. Mason Rudolph ultimately drew the start against Chicago, but he'll be returning to a backup role Sunday after Rodgers was able to show enough improvement over the course of Week 13 prep to gain clearance to play. Rodgers is still likely to don some sort of protective brace on his non-throwing wrist Sunday to guard against further injury. |
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Mason Rudolph Mason Rudolph Returning to QB2 duties
Fri, Nov 28, 2025, 4:44 PM
With Aaron Rodgers (wrist) cleared to play Sunday against the Bills, Rudolph will return to QB2 duties for the Steelers.
Analysis: Rudolph started last Sunday's loss to the Bears and completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards (5.5 yards per attempt), one touchdown and one interception. He'll return to clipboard duties for the Steelers. |
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Ben Skowronek Ben Skowronek Good to go for Week 13
Fri, Nov 28, 2025, 1:48 PM
Skowronek (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bills, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Skowronek logged a pair of DNPs Wednesday and Thursday before practicing fully Friday. The 28-year-old wide receiver has three catches for 56 yards and one touchdown on four targets across 11 appearances this season. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Cleared for Week 13 action
Fri, Nov 28, 2025, 12:55 PM
Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Friday that Rodgers (left wrist) will start Sunday's game against the Bills, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Tomlin noted of the QB Friday, "Full participant today, no injury designation Sunday. All systems go." Per Pryor, Rodgers fractured his left non-throwing wrist Nov. 16, but following back-to-back full practices, he's been deemed good to go this weekend, which sends Mason Rudolph to a backup role Week 13. Through 10 games, the 41-year-old signal-caller has thrown for 1,969 yards, with a 19:7 TD:INT in that span. In his return from a one-game absence, Rodgers will square off against a 7-4 Buffalo team that has lost two of its last three contests but overall is giving up a league-low average 168.2 passing yards per game. |
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DK Metcalf DK Metcalf No restrictions at practice
Thu, Nov 27, 2025, 1:21 PM
Metcalf (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Analysis: Metcalf injured his ankle during Pittsburgh's loss to the Bears in Week 12 but managed to play through the issue, and after sitting out Wednesday's session, it appears he's now fully on track for Sunday's game against the Bills. The same can be said for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who sat out Week 12 due to a left wrist fracture but is now practicing in full while wearing a cast. Metcalf has drawn at least seven targets in four of his last five regular-season appearances, giving him a solid floor. That said, Metcalf hasn't scored or topped 50 receiving yards in four straight games, and in back-to-back contests he's finished without so much as a target in the red zone. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports that Metcalf's left ankle remained taped at Thursday's practice. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Practices in full Thursday
Thu, Nov 27, 2025, 1:16 PM
Rodgers (wrist) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Analysis: Rodgers' unrestricted practice level effectively confirms Ian Rapoport of NFL Network's report that the veteran quarterback is on track to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Bills. Rodgers missed Week 12 due to a non-displaced fracture to his non-throwing wrist, and per Saunders still wore a cast at Thursday's practice. It's possible he'll still have the wrist stabilized during Sunday's game. Top wideout DK Metcalf (ankle) also practiced in full Thursday. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Back at practice
Thu, Nov 27, 2025, 1:04 PM
Rodgers (left wrist) returned to practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Per Pryor, Rodgers' left wrist was stabilized, but after missing Wednesday's session, the QB's return to the field a day later is nonetheless a positive development ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills. The Steelers' upcoming injury report is slated to clarify Rodgers' official participation level Thursday. |
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