The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need another pass-catcher to emerge and take some attention away from top receiver D.K. Metcalf. In Week 11, it’s possible the Steelers turn to a wideout on their practice squad — Marquez Valdes-Scantling — for the potential answer.
Head coach Mike Tomlin presented that as a possibility when asked about Valdes-Scantling’s possible role against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“We’ll see what the week holds for him and all the others on the practice squad,” Tomlin told reporters Tuesday. “We’re not opposed to elevating people and giving them an opportunity to contribute. I think it’s just been about every game this year where we’ve elevated someone and utilized their talents.
“I’m certainly open to evaluating Scantling. His ability to know what to do and the quality of that execution and how it might fit into what we’re trying to do offensively in an effort to engineer victory.”
The Steelers officially signed Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad on November 4. The team released former part-time 2024 starting cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. to make space for Valdes-Scantling.
In five games with the San Francisco 49ers at the beginning of the season, Valdes-Scantling had four catches for 40 yards. He received eight targets.
Steelers Could Turn to WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
It’s not particularly shocking the Steelers are looking for more production from their pass-catchers. Metcalf and Roman Wilson led the team in receiving with only 35 yards during Week 10.
For the season, just Metcalf has more than 275 receiving yards. The Steelers No. 2 receiver, Calvin Austin III has 237 receiving yards and is averaging just 47.2 receiving yards per game.
The Steelers have managed to mostly mask their receiving depth issues this season. But Austin’s statistics as a WR2 are not going to get it done most weeks.
Valdes-Scantling used to be WR2-type player. From 2020-22, he averaged about 34 catches and 600 receiving yards per season. Valdes-Scantling also averaged 17.9 yards per reception during that stretch.
Maybe most importantly, the veteran receiver would give quarterback Aaron Rodgers another receiver he can trust. Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling played four years together with the Green Bay Packers.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Mike Tomlin Breaks Silence on WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s Potential Debut appeared first on Heavy Sports.