Despite addressing the position heavily over the past two seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big problem at wide receiver to start the 2026 season, one that could be fixed by reuniting with a former fan-favorite wide receiver.
DK Metcalf looked rough in Week 1. And to make matters worse, Pittsburgh's leader in receiving yards, Michael Pittman Jr., is dealing with a surprise foot injury and was held out of practice on Thursday. This is where former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster comes into play.
Released by the New York Giants in June 2026, Smith-Schuster is currently looking for his next NFL opportunity as a free agent. If Pittman is forced to miss time due to his foot injury, Smith-Schuster would not only serve as a reliable
WR3, but his veteran presence would also help push younger, talented receivers like Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard.
Drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Smith-Schuster went on to play five seasons in Pittsburgh (2017-2021), three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2022, 2024-2025), and one with the New England Patriots (2023).
If the Steelers are truly all in on Aaron Rodgers' final NFL season, adding Smith-Schuster to a wide receiver room dealing with early struggles, whether it's Metcalf's inconsistency or Pittman's injury, is the move to make.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers should reunite with former fan-favorite WR after concerning injury update
