Steelers named in WR market for Brian Thomas Jr., Josh Downs ahead of trade deadline
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler puts the 6-2 Steelers in the receiver market, with Brian Thomas Jr. and Josh Downs at the top and Calvin Ridley as a fallback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2 and have won four straight, and with three days left before the trade deadline they are reportedly looking for help at wide receiver. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler names Pittsburgh among the teams in the receiver market, and that list is down to three players: Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr., Indianapolis' Josh Downs and Tennessee's Calvin Ridley.
Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation's Steelers site, pointed to Fowler's report. Fowler called Thomas and Downs the main names and said he expects "one or both to be moved." Ridley is seen around the league as a backup option. Kansas City and San Francisco are also reported to be shopping, so Pittsburgh would not be the only bidder.
Each player is available for a different reason. Thomas has been the most talked-about receiver on the market for more than a month, after slipping down Jacksonville's depth chart behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers. Downs plays for an Indianapolis team that has started selling off veterans, a process that has already sent out Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. If he came to Pittsburgh, he would be the second receiver the Steelers have taken from the Colts this year, after Pittman arrived in March. Ridley's playing time in Tennessee has dropped well below the 80-plus percent of offensive snaps he played two seasons ago.
The reason for the interest is how Pittsburgh has been winning. The Steelers have gotten to 6-2 mostly on their running game and their defense. Jaylen Warren's production has been strong enough that Ben Roethlisberger has said he belongs in the MVP conversation, according to Behind the Steel Curtain. A receiver who forces defenses to respect the passing game would give that offense another way to win once the weather turns and the playoffs arrive.
What it means for Cincinnati
Pittsburgh's next game is Sunday, November 15, at Cincinnati on NBC. Any receiver acquired before the deadline would have only a few practices to learn the offense before then. The numbers explain why the front office is looking at receivers rather than defenders. Over the four-game winning streak, the Steelers have allowed 57 points, just over 14 per game. That includes a 27-6 win over Cleveland, a 16-10 win over New Orleans, a 26-19 win at Tampa Bay and a 34-22 win over Indianapolis. For the season, they have scored 180 points and allowed 144.
The offense has been less steady. Pittsburgh scored three points in its loss at New England and was held to 16 by the Saints during the current run. Both of its losses came on the road, including a 27-24 loss at Cleveland. The Bengals have already played them close once. Pittsburgh won the first meeting 30-27 at home, one of only two games all season in which the Steelers allowed more than 22 points. A rematch in Cincinnati, against a team that has shown it can score on this defense, is the kind of game where a better passing game could make the difference.
The Steelers have until the deadline to decide whether one of the three is worth the price.
