The Pittsburgh Steelers will turn to a pair of veteran wide receivers during Week 14 in search of a spark in the passing attack. Those two veteran wideouts — Adam Theielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling — could play a lot.
That’s what FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer argued Sunday morning on his network’s Week 14 pregame show. The Steelers will visit the Baltimore Ravens for a 1 pm ET matchup that will determine the first-place leader in the AFC North with four weeks remaining.
“Jay Glazer said he thinks Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling ‘could’ play a lot against the Ravens today,” wrote the Steelers Depot official X account.
Both Thielen and Valdes-Scantling will be making their Steelers debuts Sunday.
The team added Thielen off waivers Tuesday. On Saturday, the Steelers elevated Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad to the active roster. The 31-year-old has been on the Pittsburgh practice squad for the past month.
The Steelers’ Week 14 inactive list appeared to confirm Glazer’s opinion. The team included second-year receiver Roman Wilson on its list of inactive players for the Ravens showdown.
Along with Wilson, quarterback Will Howard, safety Kyle Dugger, offensive lineman Calvin Anderson, defensive lineman Brodric Martin-Rhodes, wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon are inactive for Pittsburgh.
Dugger, Anderson and Harmon will miss the contest because of injuries. Howard will once again serve as Pittsburgh emergency No. 3 quarterback.
Steelers Turning to Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling With Season on Line
It’s not surprising the Steelers are trying something different at receiver for Week 14. Only D.K. Metcalf has more than 280 receiving yards for the team this season.
Thielen and Valdes-Scantling aren’t exactly the most inspiring options. Other teams cut the two receivers this season.
But the Steelers need to try something new, and there’s always a chance the two savvy veterans have a little left in the tank.
Thielen made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2017 and 2018 with the Minnesota Vikings. He enters Sunday with 693 catches and 8,380 receiving yards in his career.
Valdes-Scantling has averaged 17.3 yards per reception in 111 NFL games. He also has experience with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-21.
Metcalf leads the Steelers with 45 catches and 605 receiving yards this season. He is the only pass catcher on the team with more than 300 yards.
Running back Kenneth Gainwell is the only other Steelers player with at least 27 receptions.
Steelers Make WR Roman Wilson Inactive
Pittsburgh’s young receivers have left the Steelers little choice but to try a game plan featuring Thielen and Valdes-Scantling. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less disappointing that Wilson is inactive.
The team drafted Wilson at No. 84 overall in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Without much production from anyone else, there’s been opportunities for the 24-year-old to carve out a role on offense.
But he’s been unable to. Wilson has 12 catches for 166 receiving yards with two touchdowns this season. Both of his scores came in garbage time during lopsided losses.
The Steelers chose to make Wilson inactive instead of fellow struggling receiver Calvin Austin III. Austin has 26 catches, 278 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.
The 26-year-old is averaging more receptions per game in 2025 than last year. However, he averaged 15.2 yards per catch in 2024. Austin has posted 10.7 yards per reception this season.
Thielen and Valdes-Scantling will have to give the Steelers offense a boost or the team could fall below the .500 mark for the first time this season. Both the Steelers and Ravens enter Sunday with 6-6 records.
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