It’s safe to say that DK Metcalf’s first season in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform was far from a success. The receiver posted just 850 yards after being suspended for the team’s final two regular-season games, and struggled to find consistency with quarterback Aaron Rodgers all season.
Many believed the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard, coupled with the continued development of Roman Wilson, would alleviate some of the pressure and focus put on Metcalf by opposing defenses.
However, it has been a modest at best start to the season for the receiver, as he has posted just 374 yards through the team’s first seven games.
Appearing on ESPN’s NFL Live, former Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen addressed why he believes the connection between Rodgers and Metcalf still has yet to hit its full stride.
“What Aaron likes is he likes to have guys just line up and play football,” Thielen said. “We’re not going to move him around. We’re not going to put him in the slot. We’re not going to motion him. We just want to line up and go win.DK is not that guy. He’s not a guy you just put out there at the X, and it’s third and five, and you go win, right? And you’re seeing that on the tape. You’re seeing that it’s he’s looking for him. He wants him, but he’s not open. And that’s okay. Some guys just aren’t that guy. You got to be able to move them around. You got to be able to put them in stacks. You got to be able to motion them. But he’s not that guy right now in this offense.”
Thielen appeared in five games for the Steelers last season, recording 11 receptions for 117 yards. Coming from someone who played with the duo last season, this observation holds more weight than your normal sports talking head. The receiver struggled with drops early in the season, but has found some consistency by going over 90 receiving yards in two of his last four games.
Something still feels off with the connection between the Steelers quarterback and their top wideout. One former receiver believes it’s due to Metcalf’s lack of versatility overall. Metcalf’s only game of over 100 yards this season happened to come against Cleveland. Metcalf and Rodgers will have to be in sync to help the Steelers win this game and earn sole possession of first place in the AFC North, but it may not be that simple.
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