BREAKING: Steelers Finally Add WR, Give Aaron Rodgers Familiar Target
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.
Seahawks Get Good News Days Before SNF Game vs. Commanders
The Seattle Seahawks head into Week 9 rested and hopefully recharged after a bye week. As the Seahawks prepare to face the Washington Commanders in primetime, Seattle received some good news.
The Seahawks running game could be getting a boost, but the question is when. Seattle announced that fullback Robbie Ouzts has been designated to return to practice ahead of the team’s showdown against Washington.
This move opens a 21-day practice window for Ouzts to either be moved to the active roster or remain on injured reserve. Ouzts had been on IR with an ankle injury and will now return to practice.
A fullback returning to the field is not typically viewed as massive in today’s NFL, but Seattle’s rushing attack has been inconsistent. Ouzts’ blocking ability could provide a boost to help jumpstart the Seahawks run game as the rookie shined during a limited sample size prior to injury.
The move does not guarantee Ouzts will suit up against the Commanders but indicates the rookie is inching closer to a return. Making a return to the practice field is the first step for Ouzts being able to play on Sundays.
Here’s the latest Seahawks news heading into the team’s Week 9 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Commanders.
Could the Seahawks Make a Trade Before the NFL Deadline?
The Seahawks have until November 4, 2025, to make a deal before the NFL trade deadline. It remains to be seen if Seattle will be aggressive in the coming days, but general manager John Schneider has not been afraid to strike a midseason move.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald made it clear that Seattle is open for business, if the right move is available.
“We’re always active,” Macdonald explained on October 27, per The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar. “You know how John rolls: We’re in everything. We’re constantly trying to do what’s best for us. Sometimes that’s through acquisition.”
The Seahawks Would Be Wise to Make a Trade to Bolster the Team’s Offensive Line
Seattle got a jolt during the bye with the San Francisco 49ers‘ loss in Week 8. The 5-2 Seahawks are now tied with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFC West. If the Seahawks do make a move, linebacker and offensive line are two position groups to watch, per Dugar. It feels like a broken record, but the Seahawks offensive line continues to be a work in progress.
“The Browns (Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller) and Titans (Kevin Zeitler) have veteran guards on expiring contracts, though those teams might not see value in worsening the supporting casts in front of their rookie quarterbacks,” Dugar wrote in an October 28, story titled, “Trade deadline options: Seahawks should be buyers, even if a big deal seems unlikely.”
“Although the Jets might feel great after their first victory of the Aaron Glenn era, they could still sell off an expiring-contract player like left guard John Simpson. Evan Neal of the Giants might not be an upgrade, but the cost would likely be low, and Schneider is not afraid to take a swing on a first-round pick (Neal was selected No. 7 in 2022).”
The Seahawks are a 3.5-point favorite versus the Commanders in the Sunday Night Football matchup, per DraftKings.
