The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the pleasant surprise stories of the 2025 NFL season through the first six weeks. After the way Aaron Rodgers’ tenure went with the New York Jets, expectations were tempered about how he would fare with the Steelers in the brutal AFC North. But Pittsburgh was adamant on having the former Super Bowl champion on the roster, and so far, the gambit has paid off.
Making key trades to upgrade the weapons around him, their biggest offseason acquisition to that effect was undoubtedly DK Metcalf. The Seattle Seahawks superstar could be the downfield threat Rodgers needed, and their connection was starting to materialize in the first five games. But coming out of the bye for a divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Metcalf hasn’t looked the same.
What Happened to DK Metcalf?
Ranking 11th in the league on PFSN’s WR Impact, Metcalf has been electric to begin the season. Already up to 356 yards and four touchdowns, it seemed like he was coming into his own over the last two games.
However, in the first half against the Bengals, his impact was not the same. Targeted four times, he only had two catches to his name, adding 45 yards, as the Steelers faced a surprising 17-10 deficit going into halftime.
A second-round pick for the Seahawks in 2019, it didn’t take long for Metcalf to establish himself in the league. Following a 900-yard and seven touchdowns rookie season, he earned his first Pro Bowl appearance in his sophomore season by tallying 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Since then, he’s been one of the most productive wide receivers in the league with a knack for getting into the end zone. He is also a dominant playoff performer, with 451 yards and five touchdowns in his four postseason games.
That was particularly valuable for the Steelers, who, after a decade of not winning a single playoff game, have clear hopes of altering that streak with their new-look roster. However, against a crucial game against Cincinnati, that production did not come in all that handy.
Targeted just once more in the second half, he added another catch to his tally for five yards, bringing his total to 50 receiving yards on the night. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough for Pittsburgh, who lost 33-31 following a game-winning field goal.
For the organization, it was Pat Freiermuth who led the team with 111 yards and two touchdowns on just five receptions, while Ja’Marr Chase dominated for the Bengals en route to 161 receiving yards and a touchdown on a franchise record 16 receptions.