Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers implied Tuesday quarterback Aaron Rodgers had nothing to do with the team’s interest in signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But Rodgers was certainly a draw to the Steelers for Valdes-Scantling.
That’s what the veteran wideout strongly suggested while speaking to reporters for the first time since joining the Pittsburgh practice squad Tuesday.
“This guy next to me got me here,” Valdes-Scantling said, via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He’s been trying to get me around since we left Green Bay.”
Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling played four years together with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-21. The receiver left the Packers in free agency during March 2022.
The following year, Rodgers joined the New York Jets. The quarterback couldn’t get Valdes-Scantling to New York in 2023 or last year. But the two have now reunited in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad Tuesday. The team released cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. the day prior to make space on the squad.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Aaron Rodgers Together Again With Steelers
It’s important to note that Valdes-Scantling will not begin his Steelers tenure on the active roster. Tomlin stressed that to reporters Tuesday, saying the wideout is “just a practice squadder right now.”
But the veteran receiver could provide key depth, especially if a Steelers wideout suffers another injury. Starter Calvin Austin III missed two games in October because of a shoulder ailment.
In four seasons with Rodgers as his quarterback in Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling posted 123 catches, 2,153 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over 59 games. The wideout averaged 17.5 yards per catch.
After leaving Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. He averaged 15.9 yards per reception in 33 games with Patrick Mahomes.
Since the start of 2024, Valdes-Scantling has played for the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. He’s largely continued to be a big-play threat. The wideout has posted 19.6 yards per catch in the past 19 NFL games.
Valdes-Scantling Explains Why He Chose 49ers Over Steelers in August
While the 31-year-old wideout appears excited to play with Rodgers again, the quarterback wasn’t enough for Valdes-Scantling to sign with Pittsburgh before the regular season.
The Steelers and 49ers expressed interest in Valdes-Scantling after the Seattle Seahawks waived the wideout following the preseason. He signed with San Francisco.
“It was between here and the 49ers,” Valdes-Scantling said Wednesday. “I ended up choosing the 49ers because it was the same system that I was running with Klint [Kubiak] in Seattle. It was just kind of an easier transition to get on the field right away.”
The receiver made his 49ers debut in the season opener, ironically, against the Seahawks. He played 27 offensive snaps but didn’t catch a pass.
Valdes-Scantling began his 49ers tenure on the team’s practice squad. He eventually joined the active roster and played five contests before the team placed him on injured reserve. Valdes-Scantling posted four catches and 40 receiving yards on eight targets in those five contests.
Steelers veteran receiver Scotty Miller is dealing with a finger injury and didn’t practice Wednesday. But the Steelers have five other wideouts currently on their active roster — Austin, D.K. Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek and Ke’Shawn Williams.
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