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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Could be back for Week 8
Tue, Oct 21, 2025, 11:36 AM
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he's "optimistic" that Austin (shoulder) will be able to play in Sunday's game against the Packers, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Austin has missed the Steelers' last two games with a shoulder injury, but Tomlin noted that the wideout has made enough progress in his recovery to be integrated back into practices this week. The extent of Austin's participation in practice will ultimately dictate whether he plays Sunday, but if the 26-year-old is able to turn in at least one full session by Friday, he'll have good odds of gaining clearance to suit up. Through four appearances this season, Austin has recorded 10 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets. |
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Jonnu Smith Jonnu Smith Bounces back slightly in Week 7
Fri, Oct 17, 2025, 10:14 AM
Smith secured three of six targets for 28 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 33-31 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Although Smith's fantasy production remained somewhat limited Thursday, he tied for the team lead with six targets, which matched his season-best mark, while also racking up a season-high 28 receiving yards in the loss. Over the first six games of the 2025 campaign, Smith has secured 20 of 26 targets for 117 yards and two touchdowns while rushing once for 10 yards, putting him well behind the pace he set with the Dolphins last year, when he secured 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight scores. Smith has split work with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington early in the season, and the three tight ends will be difficult to rely on in fantasy as long as that trend continues. |
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Darnell Washington Darnell Washington Reaches end zone in defeat
Fri, Oct 17, 2025, 10:07 AM
Washington secured three of five targets for two yards and a touchdown during Thursday's 33-31 loss to Cincinnati.
Analysis: Washington was targeted five times for a second consecutive game, and while he didn't generate much yardage Thursday after accumulating 62 yards last week, he recorded his first touchdown of the season. He led Steelers tight ends in playing time in the previous two contests, but he played 63 percent of the team's offensive snaps Thursday, which ranked slightly behind both Jonnu Smith (70 percent) and Pat Freiermuth (65 percent). Smith and Freiermuth were more productive in the passing game as well, and the three tight ends likely will continue to see some sort of timeshare as the season progresses. |
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Roman Wilson Roman Wilson Two catches on TNF
Fri, Oct 17, 2025, 10:02 AM
Wilson secured both of his targets for 17 yards during Thursday's 33-31 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Although Calvin Austin (shoulder) remained sidelined for a second consecutive game Thursday, Wilson didn't generate much production in the loss. Over the two games that Austin has missed, Wilson has secured all three of his targets for 29 yards, marking his most productive stretch of the season, but that hasn't been enough to garner much fantasy appeal. |
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Scotty Miller Scotty Miller Logs one reception Thursday
Fri, Oct 17, 2025, 9:58 AM
Miller secured his lone target for nine yards during Thursday's 33-31 loss to Cincinnati.
Analysis: Miller was on the field for just eight offensive snaps Thursday after logging double-digit snaps in each of the team's last two games, but he still recorded his first reception of the season in the loss. Even though Calvin Austin (shoulder) remained sidelined for a second consecutive game Thursday, most of the Steelers' passing game flowed through DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren and the team's three tight ends, leaving minimal work for Miller and the rest of the team's wide receivers. |
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Kaleb Johnson Kaleb Johnson Doesn't see field in primetime
Fri, Oct 17, 2025, 9:49 AM
Johnson was active but wasn't on the field for any snaps during Thursday's 33-31 loss to the Bengals.
Analysis: Johnson recorded six carries in each of the Steelers' last two games, but he was held off the field Thursday night despite being active. Jaylen Warren was dominant in Thursday's loss, racking up 158 yards from scrimmage, while Kenneth Gainwell was on the field for 39 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, so work likely will continue to be hard to come by for Johnson as long as the team's top two running backs are healthy. |
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DK Metcalf DK Metcalf Relatively quiet in Week 7 loss
Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 11:26 PM
Metcalf brought in three of five targets for 50 yards in the Steelers' 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.
Analysis: On a night when Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins mostly stole the headlines in conjunction with Joe Flacco, Metcalf was almost a forgotten man, even on his own team to an extent. While the star wideout's yardage total was second on the night for the Steelers, he wasn't on the receiving end of any of Aaron Rodgers' quartet of scoring tosses, which all sent to tight ends. Nevertheless, Metcalf and Rodgers have already flashed plenty of strong chemistry early on in their working relationship, as evidenced by the 22-406-4 receiving line on 36 targets Metcalf will take into a Week 8 home matchup against the Packers on Sunday night, Oct. 26. |
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Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers Four TDs in losing effort
Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 11:09 PM
Rodgers completed 23 of 34 passes for 249 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed once for six yards in the Steelers' 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.
Analysis: Rodgers was outshined by fellow graybeard signal-caller Joe Flacco, but the former still tied a season high in touchdown passes. Rodgers connected with Pat Freiermuth for half his scoring tosses -- from 19 and 68 yards out -- and his other two TD strikes went to Freiermuth's position mates Jonnu Smith (10 yards) and Darnell Washington (two yards). Rodgers made several impressive throws throughout the night, including the second touchdown to Freiermuth and on his game-ending Hail Mary attempt, corroborating he still has plenty of arm and continues to demonstrate his mostly difficult 2024 season with the Jets may have just been a hiccup. Rodgers and his teammates will next turn their attention to a Week 8 home showdown against his old Packers squad on Sunday night, Oct. 26. |
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Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren Breaks out in TNF loss
Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 10:55 PM
Warren rushed 16 times for 127 yards and brought in four of five targets for 31 yards in the Steelers' 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night.
Analysis: Warren came just two yards short of his single-game career high in rushing yards, which he set against the Browns back on Nov. 19, 2023. The versatile back was in outstanding form against a Bengals defense that had been particularly prone to allowing chunk plays on the ground, compiling a season-high yardage total while recording four runs of 10+ yards and a co-game-long 37-yard scamper. Warren also has at least four catches in three of the last four games, and Thursday's performance affords him plenty of momentum heading into a Week 8 home showdown against the Packers on Sunday night, Oct. 26. |
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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Ruled out for TNF
Wed, Oct 15, 2025, 1:03 PM
Austin (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bengals, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.
Analysis: He hasn't practiced since a Week 5 bye and will now miss as second straight game. Austin's absence from win over the Browns this past Sunday left more playing time for Scotty Miller (50 percent route share) and Roman Wilson (27 percent), but they combined for just one target -- a 12-yard reception by Wilson. Pittsburgh's passing game figures to run through WR DK Metcalf along with the tight ends and running backs. |
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Connor Heyward Connor Heyward Cashes in on first TD
Wed, Oct 15, 2025, 9:01 AM
Heyward recorded a 12-yard touchdown reception on his lone target in Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Heyward was on the field for just six of the Steelers' 59 offensive snaps, but he was able to make the most of his limited playing time by connecting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a touchdown grab midway through the third quarter to gave Pittsburgh a 13-point lead. The touchdown was the first of the season for Heyward, who has notched just two receptions through the team's first five games. The fullback/tight end will continue to handle a limited role on offense in the weeks to come. |
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Scotty Miller Scotty Miller Fails to draw target in Week 6
Wed, Oct 15, 2025, 8:58 AM
Miller didn't draw a target while playing 26 of the Steelers' 59 snaps on offense in Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Miller has been active for all five of Pittsburgh's games to date but has yet to record a reception and has drawn just one target. The 26 snaps he played Week 6 were a season-high total and ranked second among Steelers wideouts, but Miller was unable to capitalize on the increased time on the field. Despite the underwhelming showing in Week 6, Miller could in store for another boosted snap count Thursday against the Bengals with fellow receiver Calvin Austin (shoulder) seemingly trending toward missing a second straight game. |
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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Sits out practice
Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 3:09 PM
Austin (shoulder) didn't participate in Tuesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Analysis: Still on the mend from the shoulder injury he sustained in a Week 4 win over the Vikings in Dublin, Austin has yet to resume practicing and appears to be trending toward missing a second straight game Thursday against the Bengals. While Austin was sidelined for this past Sunday's win over the Browns, Scotty Miller and Roman Wilson both benefited from upticks in playing time behind No. 1 wideout DK Metcalf but combined for just one reception. |
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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Estimated as DNP on Monday
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 3:26 PM
Austin (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Coach Mike Tomlin said earlier Monday that Austin is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Bengals after he missed the Week 6 win over the Browns following his injury in Week 4. Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek would be in line for increased offensive snaps against Cincinnati if Austin is unable to play, but none of that aforementioned trio would carry any sort of fantasy value in season-long leagues. |
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Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Questionable for Week 7
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 11:16 AM
Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Austin (shoulder) is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Bengals, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Austin was injured in the Steelers' Week 4 win over the Vikings and then missed this past Sunday's Week 6 contest against the Browns following Pittsburgh's bye. It sounds like he may need another week to recover due to the short week ahead. If Austin does indeed miss Thursday night's game, he'll have 10 days to get ready for a Week 8 date with the Packers. With Austin out against Cleveland, Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek split wide receiver duties behind DK Metcalf. However, the Steelers leaned more on three-tight end sets rather than multiple wideouts. |
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Pat Freiermuth Pat Freiermuth Manages 11 yards in victory
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 10:21 AM
Freiermuth secured his lone target for 11 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Although Freiermuth recorded a catch Sunday after being held without a target during the Steelers' Week 4 win over Minnesota, he was on the field for just 36 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps against Cleveland, which ranked third among the team's tight ends. Darnell Washington has taken on a larger role over the last two games, and Freiermuth seems to be behind Jonnu Smith as well following Pittsburgh's Week 5 bye. Over his last three games, Freiermuth has secured two of four targets for 17 yards. |
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Jonnu Smith Jonnu Smith Four touches in Week 6 win
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 10:18 AM
Smith secured three of four targets for 18 yards while rushing once for 10 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over Cleveland.
Analysis: Smith was on the field for just 25 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps in Week 4, but he saw a much larger workload following the team's Week 5 bye. He played 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps against Cleveland, which still lagged behind Darnell Washington's 80 percent, but it signaled that Smith appears to have moved past the hip injury that plagued him before the bye. Over Smith's first five appearances of the season, he's secured 17 of 20 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. |
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Roman Wilson Roman Wilson Logs one reception in victory
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 10:11 AM
Wilson secured his lone target for 12 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Wilson was on the field for 15 offensive snaps Sunday, which was his highest mark since the Steelers' Week 2 loss to Seattle. Part of his uptick in playing time was likely due to Calvin Austin (shoulder) being sidelined. Although Wilson had a catch while racking up double-digit receiving yards for the first time this season, he has minimal fantasy value, even if Austin misses more time. |
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Ben Skowronek Ben Skowronek Not targeted against Cleveland
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 10:06 AM
Skowronek wasn't targeted during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Although Calvin Austin (shoulder) was sidelined for Pittsburgh's Week 6 matchup Sunday, Skowronek played most of his snaps on special teams and wasn't involved in the passing game. Skowronek has been targeted just once over the Steelers' last four games, and he has minimal fantasy value, even if Austin is forced to miss more time. |
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Kaleb Johnson Kaleb Johnson Records another six carries in win
Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 9:33 AM
Johnson rushed six times for 15 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.
Analysis: Johnson saw six carries during the Steelers' Week 4 win over the Vikings, and he saw a similar workload following Pittsburgh's Week 5 bye. Jaylen Warren continues to serve as the team's clear lead back, but Johnson has seen slightly more opportunities over the past two games. The 22-year-old's 11 offensive snaps still lagged behind Warren (31) and Kenneth Gainwell (20), and Johnson's fantasy value will likely remain limited as long as those two remain healthy. |
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