Behind the Steel Curtain

Josh Downs is listed as one of four potential trade targets for the Steelers to address their wide receiver needs before the trade deadline.

Ladd McConkey is mentioned in a trade proposal connecting the Steelers to the receiver; the source identifies him as a potential acquisition target for Pittsburgh's receiver group.

Omar Cooper Jr.'s emergence as a first-round pick for the Jets is cited as context supporting the argument that the Jets could be persuaded to part with Garrett Wilson, their recently extended receiver, given the depth they have developed at the position.

Garrett Wilson is identified as a stud receiver and potential trade target for the Steelers; the source argues that if the Jets would make Wilson available, the Steelers would be foolish not to check in on acquiring him to add a separator at receiver for Aaron Rodgers' final season.

Michael Pittman Jr. was brought in by the Steelers this offseason but is currently on injured reserve; his absence is part of the context driving the team's consideration of a trade for a wide receiver to bolster the group.

D.K. Metcalf has come on as of late; the source identifies him as a recent positive contributor to the Steelers' wide receiver group during a stretch where the team is managing injuries and maintaining a 5-2 record.

Germie Bernard has shown huge promise as part of the Steelers' wide receiver group; the source highlights his emergence as a bright spot in an injury-depleted receiving corps that is nonetheless keeping the team competitive at 5-2.

Aaron Rodgers, soon to be 43 years old, was not yet born during the 1979-1980 Cardiac Kids era of Steelers-Browns rivalry; the source uses this as context to illustrate that no current Steelers roster player has personal memory of that historic period.

Brian Thomas Jr. is another potential trade target for Pittsburgh alongside Ladd McConkey, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Jaguars wide receiver is also being monitored by the Kansas City Chiefs as a potential acquisition ahead of the trade deadline.

McConkey's versatility across perimeter (53% of snaps in 2026) and slot (46%) positions makes him an attractive fit for Pittsburgh's offense. A scout suggested McConkey is the type of target Aaron Rodgers would enjoy throwing to in order to help sustain drives, indicating his skill set aligns well with the Steelers' potential offensive needs.

McConkey's production has declined from his 2024 rookie season (82 receptions) to 66 catches in 2025 and just 13 receptions through 5 games in 2026 on an 0-6 Chargers team. He splits time between perimeter (53% of snaps in 2026) and slot (46%), providing boundary and slot versatility. A potential trade target for Pittsburgh, where he could add a 1,000-yard receiver to the Steelers' receiving corps.

Freiermuth is part of Pittsburgh's two-tight-end package strategy designed to reduce offensive predictability. In Sunday's Paris win over New Orleans, the Steelers deployed both Freiermuth and Darnell Washington on the field simultaneously, eliminating their early-season predictability and adding flexibility to the offense.

Washington is part of Pittsburgh's two-tight-end package strategy designed to reduce offensive predictability. In Sunday's Paris win over New Orleans, the Steelers deployed both Washington and Pat Freiermuth on the field simultaneously, eliminating their early-season predictability and adding flexibility to the offense.

Dowdle is one of the best backups in the league and a key part of Pittsburgh's running back combination with Jaylen Warren. In Sunday's win over New Orleans, Dowdle and Warren combined for 223 of Pittsburgh's 343 rushing yards, demonstrating the effectiveness of the two-back approach. Head coach Mike McCarthy emphasized the importance of this pairing, stating 'Anytime we can just line up and give you Jaylen and Rico all day, that's a good day for us.'

Warren has emerged as one of the best playmakers at the position this season and a legitimate two-way weapon, serving as a cornerstone of Pittsburgh's offensive strategy. In Sunday's win over New Orleans, Warren and Rico Dowdle combined for 223 of Pittsburgh's 343 rushing yards. The Steelers' coaching staff emphasized the running back combination, with head coach Mike McCarthy stating 'Anytime we can just line up and give you Jaylen and Rico all day, that's a good day for us.' Warren's emergence has been huge for a team that needs to carry Rodgers more than he can carry them.

At 42 years old with diminished athleticism, Rodgers is a shell of his former self, but he's executing Mike McCarthy's in-game adjustments effectively and making key plays when needed. He shifted to a shorter passing game in Week 6 at Tampa Bay and scrambled for crucial first downs late in games, including an 8-yard run in the final minutes against New Orleans that buried the Saints. The Steelers' offensive strategy has adapted to carry Rodgers rather than rely on him to carry the team, yet his willingness to accept adjustments and execute them as intended has been a key difference in Pittsburgh's recent success.

Rico Dowdle's role is expected to diminish as Mike McCarthy is moving back to a running back rotation; Dowdle has been involved but the shift toward committee usage reduces his standalone value and snap share going forward.

Quinshon Judkins returned from injury last week and posted over 100 rushing yards against Tennessee; Pittsburgh's run defense ranks seventh in the NFL (91 rushing yards allowed per game), but Judkins' recent production and the Browns' vulnerable run defense (116.4 yards allowed per game) suggest continued upside in the Week 8 matchup.

Jaylen Warren should be the featured back for Pittsburgh against Cleveland's vulnerable run defense (116.4 rushing yards allowed per game); the source recommends 'sticking with the hot hand of Jaylen Warren' as the game plan, positioning him as the primary ball-carrier in a matchup favoring ground attack.

The rookie is making strides for the Steelers and helping fans move past disappointment from past draft picks; his emergence is part of the team's investment in talent development.

Since returning from injury, Dowdle has been a great complement to Jaylen Warren in a balanced backfield approach. In Week 7, he had nine carries for 41 yards and added 45 receiving yards on six receptions. His efficiency has drastically improved, averaging 4.6 yards per carry on Sunday. The Steelers have found the right balance with Warren receiving 18 carries while Dowdle gets meaningful touches, creating the one-two punch that fans hoped for at the start of the season.

Warren's emergence as a legitimate top-five running back is evident in his Week 7 performance: 101 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards, with 43 yards on the opening series alone. According to Matt Williamson, Warren is the first running back to have 550+ rushing yards and 250+ receiving yards in his first seven games of a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2019. He posted over 100 scrimmage yards in the first half and continues to be the most dynamic and effective player on the Steelers offense, making a strong All-Pro case as Pittsburgh rides him to victories.

Rodgers continues to be efficient while adding explosiveness to the Steelers' offense. His best play came on 3rd-and-14 when he escaped pressure, ran left, and uncorked a 51-yard moon ball to DK Metcalf inside the five-yard line. He also executed an eight-yard scramble on third down late in the game to help run out the clock. Though not his most impressive stat line, his 30 passing attempts were the fewest of the season as Pittsburgh controlled the clock with the running game. Rodgers maneuvered the pocket better than he has all season and continues to put the Steelers offense in positions to win.

Dowdle operates as the backup running back to Jaylen Warren, receiving 9 carries to Warren's 18 (a 2-to-1 ratio). In Week 7, Dowdle had 15 total touches and accumulated a solid 86 yards from scrimmage, but the touch distribution clearly favors Warren as the lead back.

Warren continues an exceptional stretch with 101 rushing yards and 36 receiving yards in Week 7, totaling 137 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches (18 carries, 3 receptions implied). The source describes his current performance tear as 'pretty special' and notes a 2-to-1 carry ratio advantage over backup Rico Dowdle (18 carries to Dowdle's 9), establishing Warren as the clear lead back.

Bernard caught a ball and ran for a 20-yard gain to the New Orleans 14-yard line late in the first half; however, the play was negated by an overzealous personal foul penalty by Mason McCormick, who jumped on the pile after the play was over, backing the Steelers up to the 29-yard line with 54 seconds left in the half and forcing a stressful field goal drill.

Vele scored a touchdown on an uncontested quick out on 4th-and-goal to tie the game for the Saints; the source criticizes this as too easy and highlights a defensive breakdown after the Steelers had made an inspiring three-down stand at the goal line. This represents a critical mistake in the Steelers' otherwise bend-but-don't-break defensive approach.

Washington made a strong catch on a back-shoulder fade from Rodgers for a touchdown; the source describes this as an impressive display and one of the highlights of Rodgers' game, demonstrating the quarterback's ability to execute high-difficulty throws despite overall inconsistency.

Olave, the Saints' best player, was held in check by the Steelers' defense; he received a 14-yard pass from Shough to open a critical drive with just over seven minutes left in the game, but the Saints were unable to capitalize and were forced to punt after a Patrick Queen sack on 3rd-and-10. The Steelers' defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's bend-but-don't-break style prevented Olave from getting behind the secondary or creating explosive plays.

Rodgers is both the best quarterback the team has had during the 2020s and a cap on their ceiling; while capable of flashes (19-of-30 completion, key plays to DK Metcalf and Darnell Washington), the offense lacks consistency and explosive output. Of 19 completions, 10 were for gains under seven yards; several vertical attempts were uncatchable; he checked down to Brandon Smith for only four yards with no timeouts and 30 seconds left in the half, then took a sack. The source notes Rodgers' down-to-down rollercoaster product makes the game-day experience frustrating; while he can squeak out close wins, creating explosive plays is now as important as winning the turnover battle, and once the playoffs arrive, the Steelers' shrinking margin for error becomes critical. The Saints are not a good defense, yet the Steelers managed just a few explosive passes and only one touchdown.

Olave came into Week 7 as the second-leading receiver in terms of yardage but was held to just 56 yards on six catches against Pittsburgh's defense. Despite the Saints' ability to move the ball and convert third downs at a high rate (6-of-12), Olave was unable to produce explosive plays, reflecting the Steelers' zone scheme's effectiveness against underneath throws.

Dowdle has emerged as a legitimate change-of-pace back in the Steelers' 60-40 touch split with Warren. In his best game yet as a Steeler, he totaled 86 yards from scrimmage with six catches and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. He's produced runs of 15-plus yards in consecutive games. The Steelers have shifted their run-calling scheme from 60% zone concepts in Weeks 1-2 to a near 50-50 zone-versus-gap split by Week 7, with duo concepts now called on roughly 35% of runs—a shift that better fits Dowdle's skill set. The Steelers are 3-1 in games where both running backs have been active, suggesting the committee approach is working.

Through seven games, Warren is the Steelers' best and most consistent offensive weapon. He racked up 101 rushing yards on 18 carries (5.6 YPC) and 36 receiving yards on three catches for 137 total yards from scrimmage on 21 touches. Warren has received at least 20 touches in four of seven contests, and the Steelers are 3-1 when he gets 20-plus touches, averaging 34.6 points per game in those contests versus 16.3 PPG when he has fewer than 20 touches. Even in this low-scoring 16-point game, Warren's volume and efficiency (5.6 YPC) underscore his role as a spark plug for Pittsburgh's offense.

Darnell Washington scored a touchdown that resulted from the Steelers' biggest play of the game: a 3rd-and-14 conversion where Aaron Rodgers extended the play and found DK Metcalf for a 51-yard completion. This touchdown exemplified Pittsburgh's improved third-down execution (10 conversions on 16 attempts, season-high) and their ability to sustain long drives against New Orleans.

DK Metcalf was targeted on the Steelers' biggest play of the game: a 3rd-and-14 conversion where Aaron Rodgers extended the play and found him for a 51-yard completion, which set up the Darnell Washington touchdown. This play exemplified Pittsburgh's improved third-down efficiency (10 conversions on 16 attempts, season-high), a key factor in establishing long drives against New Orleans.

On the Steelers' biggest play of the game—a 3rd-and-14 conversion—Aaron Rodgers extended the play and found DK Metcalf for a 51-yard completion, which set up the Darnell Washington touchdown. Post-game, Rodgers acknowledged the offense left points on the board by settling for field goals in two red-zone drives and another drive that reached the Saints' 29-yard line, indicating missed scoring opportunities despite the efficient third-down performance.

Rodgers was visibly upset on the sidelines in the fourth quarter after having to settle for the Steelers' third field goal of the game. The source notes that while the offense put itself in scoring positions, the inability to convert field goals into touchdowns will be a concern if the Steelers want to seriously compete down the stretch of the season.

The Steelers overused fade routes to Metcalf in the red zone, attempting the play three times with mostly uncatchable balls and one incomplete pass. While Metcalf had a fine overall day leading the team in yards with a 51-yard post route catch, the source criticizes the play-calling strategy as inefficient in the red zone rather than Metcalf's performance itself.

Freiermuth had a quiet day with only two catches for 20 yards. He had a crucial drop in the fourth quarter on a well-placed ball from Rodgers that would have set the Steelers up deep inside Saints territory, forcing them into a field goal situation instead of a potential touchdown.

Washington scored the Steelers' only touchdown of the game on a fade route, using his six-foot-seven-inch frame to dunk on a Saints defender on his only target. He has become a dependable red zone threat with three touchdowns this season, the most of his career, and the fade route to Washington is identified as the Steelers' best red zone play.