Should the Steelers Trade for a WR After Michael Pittman Jr.’s Injury?

Michael Pittman Jr.’s latest foot injury gives Pittsburgh a reason to pick up the phone. With a veteran receiver facing several weeks out, finding help becomes a sensible use of the Steelers’ time.

Making a trade is a tougher sell. The cost matters, and so does the possibility that Pittsburgh already has receivers capable of handling more work. The best response is to investigate the market while giving Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard a real chance to fill the opening.

The Steelers’ Thursday injury update confirmed that Pittman aggravated the same foot injury that kept him out of Week 2. Mike McCarthy described a multiweek absence and said the team was still evaluating his roster status. Pittsburgh has to prepare for life without him before it knows exactly how long that will last.

A useful addition has to do more than fill a roster spot

There is an understandable temptation to scan the league for a familiar name whenever a starter goes down. But acquiring a receiver also means teaching him the offense, finding practice reps and figuring out which plays he can run with confidence. A trade can take time to help.

For Pittsburgh, the appeal lies in adding someone who can earn snaps through a specific strength. A receiver who consistently gets open underneath gives the quarterback an answer when deeper routes take too long. Someone comfortable lining up in several spots gives McCarthy more freedom to move players around without changing personnel.

Those contributions can justify a modest investment. Simply adding another body leaves the same question waiting on Sunday: Who can get open when the offense needs a first down?

Wilson and Bernard need snaps to make their case

TribLive highlighted Wilson and Bernard as the receivers positioned to take on more work in Pittman’s absence. That opportunity deserves some patience.

It is difficult to learn much about a receiver from an occasional target. Regular snaps reveal whether he can handle different coverages, make the correct adjustment and stay involved when a play goes away from him. Pittsburgh can learn something valuable about both players over the coming weeks.

McCarthy has a part in that evaluation, too. Giving a young receiver a larger role works better when the game plan builds on what he does well. Asking him to copy every part of an injured veteran’s job makes the transition harder than it needs to be.

If Wilson or Bernard earns more trust, Pittsburgh gains an option that remains useful after Pittman returns. That is a meaningful payoff from an otherwise frustrating injury.

The price decides whether a trade makes sense

The case for a deal gets stronger if Pittsburgh finds a receiver who fits alongside a healthy Pittman. An addition with a lasting role offers more value than someone destined for the bench as soon as the injury clears.

Salary and draft compensation also belong in that calculation. Paying a small price for dependable depth is defensible. Giving up a meaningful pick to cover an uncertain number of games requires much more confidence in the player coming back.

For now, my preference is to give Wilson and Bernard the expanded work while exploring affordable help. A trade becomes attractive when Pittsburgh can explain exactly how the newcomer improves the offense—and where he fits once everyone is available.

Pittman’s absence creates an opening. The next few games give the Steelers a chance to find out whether they need to pay another team to fill it.

Want to write, edit, host, or produce with FPC? Join the staff →