Steelers Now
CHARLOTTE — Pittsburgh Steelers veteran wide receiver Scotty Miller had another standout performance in Thursday night’s 19-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale. Miller finished with three receptions for 82 yards (27.3 average).
Right before halftime, Skylar Thompson connected to Miller for a 53-yard reception that set up a Ben Sauls’ 38-yard field goal, which tied the game at 10-10.
“There was 15 seconds left, so we just kind of drew up a play on the sideline. (Offensive coordinator) Arthur Smith kind of drew it up, just told me to run a little bench pump. I didn’t really think it was going to be there, because I thought they were going to be playing off, but they gave us a good look for it. Skylar just let it up there for me and I came down with it, so it was a pretty cool moment,” Miller told Steelers sideline reporter Missi Matthews.
Miller has made a case at training camp and the preseason that he could be a reliable option for the Steelers this season. He also got a ringing endorsement from his quarterback on Thursday night.
“Scotty can fly. Straight up fly,” Rodgers told Matthews during Thursday night’s game. “That’s what I noticed when I was throwing with those boys out there (in Malibu). I mean, DK [Metcalf} has incredible speed. But Scotty and Roman [Wilson] and Calvin {Austin III) can fly. So you know that kind of speed is pretty special. They are all similar size athletes, other than obviously DK. They all have their own individual skill set.”
Rodgers added that Miller has made the most of his opportunities.
Despite the lack of depth, Steelers general manager Omar Khan has a great deal of confidence in the current crops of receivers.
“I feel really good about that receiver room,” Khan said during an interview on the 102.5 WDVE’s Morning Show last week. “In my opening press conference, I got a bunch of questions comparing it to last year. And to me, it’s not even close. I mean, you guys saw some of it this past weekend … Calvin (Austin) is banged up a little bit, but we’ll get him back. But Roman Wilson and Brandon Johnson, you saw the emergence of young guys like Ke’Shawn (Williams) and obviously we added DK (Metcalf). I feel good about this group. And when we traded for Jonnu [Smith], I loved his versatility.”
Calvin Austin III, who was expected to be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver, has been hampered with an abdominal muscle injury for most of training camp and all of the preseason. Miller could step up into that No. 2 WR role with Austin out.
“I pride myself on, for one, just being able to do what I (am asked) to do,” Miller said at training camp. “Just the receiver position, just being able to play all the different spots, being able to play the slot, being able to go outside and beat bigger corners...
