The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly searching for help at wide receiver, and two players familiar to coach Mike McCarthy offer an intriguing connection.
With injuries thinning Pittsburgh’s receiving corps, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reports that the Steelers have been contacting teams about potential additions. That creates the possibility of McCarthy turning to players he previously coached with the Dallas Cowboys.
The reported search is real. Whether it produces a Dallas reunion remains an open question.
Steelers Are Calling About Veteran Receivers
According to Behind the Steel Curtain’s account of Pelissero’s reporting, Pittsburgh began exploring the market after injuries hit the position.
“I do know the Steelers have been calling around on veteran receivers since the injuries last week,” Pelissero wrote in his subscriber chat at The Sweep, as quoted by the outlet.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve. Ben Skowronek also missed the Week 6 matchup with Tampa Bay because of a leg injury, further reducing Pittsburgh’s options.
Those absences create a practical problem. Pittsburgh needs enough dependable receivers to operate its offense while avoiding excessive demands on the players who remain available. A veteran addition could provide immediate insurance without requiring the Steelers to pursue a blockbuster.
Two Familiar Names Supply the Dallas Connection
Pelissero also identified Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin as receivers with connections to McCarthy from their time together in Dallas.
That familiarity makes them logical names to examine. A coach who already understands a player’s strengths, limitations and preparation habits has a useful starting point when evaluating a midseason addition. However, the reporting reviewed does not establish that Pittsburgh has made an offer for either receiver or that Dallas has agreed to entertain a deal.
There is a meaningful difference between identifying a familiar player and negotiating his acquisition. For now, the Dallas connection supplies a potential direction for Pittsburgh’s search.
Pittsburgh Has to Decide What It Is Buying
The larger question is whether the Steelers want temporary injury coverage or someone who would retain a role once their receiving corps gets healthier.
That distinction should determine the price.
Spending significant draft capital on a short-term replacement would be difficult to justify unless Pittsburgh believes the player could improve its offense beyond the current injury situation. A modest acquisition, meanwhile, could address the immediate shortage while preserving flexibility.
Familiarity with McCarthy could help a newcomer settle in, but it should not substitute for evaluating cost, availability and fit.
Pittsburgh’s reported calls indicate that the front office is exploring its options. The next development to watch is whether those inquiries become substantive negotiations — and whether McCarthy’s Dallas connections help turn a need into a deal.
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