Steelers were never in on Jets WR Garrett Wilson, report says, as Bengals trip looms

The Pittsburgh Steelers' reported interest in New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson appears to have been more rumor than real. ESPN's Rich Cimini has reported that Pittsburgh was not among the clubs pursuing Wilson before the trade deadline, and he named the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers as the teams involved, Behind the Steel Curtain reported via SB Nation.

That cuts against what went around earlier this month. NFL insider Jason La Canfora had tied the Steelers to Wilson and told followers to "stay tuned," and the story picked up steam from there. Steelers Wire also noted that Wilson was in the concussion protocol while his name was circulating, which made any deal more complicated. Cimini's account suggests Pittsburgh never moved past the speculation stage.

For the Steelers, the practical result is simple. The receiver room they have now is the one they will carry through the rest of the season. Wilson's appeal was obvious: a young receiver who can serve as a true No. 1 option, playing for a Jets team whose direction is in question. Pittsburgh has kept looking for help at the position, but the front office apparently judged the price or the fit wrong for this particular target. With the deadline behind them, any further upgrade would have to come from free agents or from players already on the roster.

The offense has done enough without him. Pittsburgh is 6-2 and has won four in a row, most recently a 27-6 home win over Cleveland. That followed a 16-10 grind against New Orleans, a 26-19 road win at Tampa Bay and a 34-22 win over Indianapolis. The two losses were a 20-3 game at New England and a 27-24 loss in Cleveland.

What it means for Cincinnati

The Steelers go to Cincinnati on Sunday, November 15, in the NBC night game, and they are the underdogs despite their record. On this site's board, the Bengals are favored at -170 on Novig, with Pittsburgh at +167. On the spread, the Steelers are getting 3.5 points at -106 on Novig, and Cincinnati is at +104 laying the 3.5.

That is a strong number against a team Pittsburgh already beat this season, 30-27 at home. The two clubs combined for 57 points that day, and the total for the rematch is 49.5 on Novig, at -100 for the over and -102 for the under. The best over price anywhere sits at Pinnacle, at -111 with a line of 49, half a point below Novig's.

Eleven venues are posting the game, and their holds on the moneyline range from 3.2% to 5.3%. That spread is wide enough that the same side can cost noticeably different amounts depending on where it is priced.

The outlook flips a week later. Pittsburgh is favored at Philadelphia on November 22, at -212 on Novig and -198 at DraftKings, the best moneyline price on the Steelers among six venues, with the spread at 4.5. First, though, the Steelers have to answer the Cincinnati question with the receivers they already have.