Steelers turn to practice squad receivers, rookie contributors and added veteran depth ahead of trip to Tampa Bay
The Pittsburgh Steelers will lean on practice squad receivers and other depth pieces this week after injuries at the receiver position left the team short for Sundays game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie Germie Bernard and practice squad players Brandon Smith, Brandon Johnson and Isaiah Hodgins figure to see larger roles as the Steelers search for their first road win of the season. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf said trust in those players and familiarity with the playbook have been central to the preparation.
Metcalf praised the work the practice squad players have done during practices and said that work has earned the coaching staffs confidence. He said he hopes they will get an in-game opportunity and noted that being a practice squad player means fewer reps with the starters but value in watching and communicating. Metcalf emphasized that the group must be ready to translate preparation into game action.
The offense will need all available manpower on Sunday as the Steelers try to improve on a 3-2 start, with both losses coming on the road at New England in Week 2 and Cleveland in Week 4. Metcalf said the key to playing on the road is to get out of the huddle, overcome crowd noise and get to the line of scrimmage with enough time to make adjustments. He said proper execution after those steps will allow the offense to function despite a hostile environment.
Running back Jaylen Warren earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after the Steelers 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Professional Football Team last Sunday. Warren rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and had a career-high 87 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches in that game, including a 50-yard run and an 80-yard catch-and-run. The club noted Warren has 640 yards from scrimmage through five games, ranking behind Detroits Jahmyr Gibbs (747) and Atlantas Bijan Robinson (732).
Warren credited teammates for key blocks that created his long scores and singled out Metcalf for a pivotal block on the 80-yard receiving touchdown. He said he prefers to focus on winning rather than individual statistics while acknowledging the honor that comes with strong performances. The team credited blocking contributions across the offense for creating the opportunities that led to Warrens career-high receiving game.
The Steelers signed linebacker Elandon Roberts to the practice squad earlier this week, bringing back a veteran who was with the club in training camp and had prior seasons in Pittsburgh. The team noted Roberts has appeared in 156 career games with 120 starts and owns 58 tackles for loss, 34 quarterback hits, 14.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception. Coach Mike McCarthy praised Roberts professionalism and desire to win, and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who coached Roberts with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, described him as a physical, professional presence.
Rookie defensive backs Daylen Everette and Robert Spears-Jennings have seen extended playing time this season and have drawn positive reviews from teammates and coaches. Everette, the third-round pick from Georgia, made his first NFL start against the Indianapolis Professional Football Team and finished that game with six tackles, including five solo stops, and two passes defensed. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Nick Herbig lauded the rookies preparation, communication and on-field impact, calling their early production notable for first-year players.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham moved from the press-box booth to the sidelines for the game against the Indianapolis Professional Football Team, saying the change allowed for more direct communication with players and greater energy. Graham called the transition a matter of doing what was best for the team and said it required only minor adjustments to his workflow. Linebacker Patrick Queen recounted a lighthearted sideline moment with Graham and said the coordinators presence energized the unit.
The Steelers official site also noted that NFL+ is available for fans who want to watch Steelers games live and on the go, including local and primetime regular-season games, live audio and additional programming. The Week 6 blog compiled practice photos and coach and player comments gathered during the clubs preparation at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The items in the clubs Week 6 blog were drawn from team interviews and internal reporting.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Steelers enter Week 6 with a clear plan: bolster an injured receiving corps with practice squad and rotational players, ride the momentum provided by Jaylen Warren and stabilize depth with veteran additions such as Elandon Roberts. Warrens production gives the offense a reliable playmaker while the emergence of rookie defensive backs eases immediate concerns in the secondary. Sundays game in Tampa Bay will test how quickly practice squad receivers and younger defenders can convert preparation into game impact and whether veteran depth can steady the roster through the stretch.