The Pittsburgh Steelers learned on Monday that they’ll be without DK Metcalf for the rest of the regular season.
The wide receiver was suspended by the NFL after an altercation with a fan during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, when he was filmed punching a fan after exchanging words with him.
Who Will Replace DK Metcalf on the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Metcalf has been the leading receiver for the Steelers in 2025. He quickly established rapport with Aaron Rodgers, who, like Metcalf, joined Pittsburgh this offseason.
His absence in such an important moment, with the team just one win away from the AFC North title, could be a huge factor.
Apart from Metcalf, the depth at the position isn’t impressive and the Steelers will struggle to replace his production. There isn’t a wide receiver on the roster who can approach Metcalf’s ability, and adding a new weapon at this point in the season is essentially impossible.
The likelihood is that Calvin Austin will be the No. 1 wide receiver for the final two games, if he can play through the hamstring injury he suffered against the Lions. Austin has been a starter for most of the season, but his production is far from impressive. He has just 317 yards and two touchdowns this season, but he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 3 against the New England Patriots.
The Steelers have also had Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, and Adam Thielen log meaningful snaps at different points, but none of them is even close to being a starting-quality receiver. Only Wilson has amassed over 100 yards this season, and his production since being drafted has been incredibly disappointing.
The biggest reason for optimism could be their ground attack. Against the Lions, the Steelers had 230 rushing yards, their best performance since the 2016 season. With Metcalf out for the next two games, running the ball effectively will be critical and will take a lot of pressure off the short-handed air attack.
The Steelers found a new level of efficiency with their offense since Aaron Rodgers became their quarterback. While their performances haven’t been outstanding, ranking at No. 15 in our PFSN Offense Impact Metric, Rodgers is a massive improvement over quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kenny Pickett.
The wide-receiver group has taken a significant hit with the suspension of Metcalf. But a win over the 3-12 Cleveland Browns on Sunday would guarantee another 10-win season for Mike Tomlin’s team and clinch the AFC North title for the Steelers, which would make Metcalf’s Week 18 absence a non-factor.
