The Pittsburgh Steelers look like they need help in the defensive backfield. Pundits, though, have been pushing for the team to sign a wide receiver for months. A veteran receiver is on his way to Pittsburgh in Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday night Valdes-Scantling “plans to sign” with the Steelers.
Valdes-Scantling will be reuniting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Valdes-Scantling played his first four seasons with Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers signed the veteran receiver after he worked out for the organization Monday.
Pittsburgh previously expressed interest in signing Valdes-Scantling just before the regular season. But in late August, Valdes-Scantling chose to join the San Francisco 49ers instead of the Steelers. Both teams were trying to sign the receiver to their practice squad.
In five games with the 49ers, Valdes-Scantling caught four passes for 40 yards. San Francisco released the receiver a day after placing him on injured reserve with a calf injury.
In 59 games over four seasons with the Packers, Valdes-Scantling posted 123 catches, 2,153 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged 17.5 yards per reception.
Steelers Signing WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Report
It’s not yet clear if the Steelers are signing the veteran receiver to their active roster or practice squad. Either one appears to be on the table for Pittsburgh.
Steelers veterans Daniel Ekuale, Deshon Elliott and Isaac Seumalo all suffered significant injuries in Week 8. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday that Ekuale sustained an ACL tear, which means he will be out for the rest of the season.
There’s a pretty strong possibility Elliott and/or Seumalo also end up on injured reserve this week.
If that happens, the Steelers would have three open roster spots on the active roster. The team could use one of them to add Valdes-Scantling. Or, they could fill the three spots with practice squad players and then add Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad.
Valdes-Scantling hasn’t been as productive since leaving the Packers after the 2021 campaign. But everywhere he’s gone, he’s continued to be a big-play threat.
Last year, Valdes-Scantling averaged 21.6 yards per catch with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints. Over two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, he posted 15.9 yards per grab in 33 contests.
The veteran receiver played 141 offensive snaps in five games for the 49ers. During those five contests, he played 38% of the team’s offensive snaps.
Valdes-Scantling Gives Steelers Additional WR Depth
The Steelers adding a receiver is not at all surprising. DK Metcalf has put together a strong start for the Steelers this season with 27 catches, 461 yards and five touchdowns. However, no other Pittsburgh pass-catcher has more than 200 receiving yards.
The team’s No. 2 receiver, Calvin Austin III, has just 14 catches for 167 yards in five games this year.
Roman Wilson has come on strongly the past couple weeks. He had four catches for 74 yards and a score in Week 8.
But Wilson didn’t have more than 17 yards in any of his first seven NFL contests to begin his career.
If added to the active roster, Valdes-Scantling could compete with Austin and Wilson for offensive snaps. The Valdes-Scantling signing could also be an indication that the Steelers will be without Scotty Miller for a longer period of time.
Miller, who is the team’s No. 4 receiver on the depth chart, missed Sunday’s contest because of a finger injury.
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