Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 performance could determine whether or not they land a free agent wide receiver.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season with their No. 2 wide receiver situation still unsolved. However, how they play this week against the New York Jets could help change that.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, free agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has elected to sit this week out and weigh his options over the weekend to see which team is the best fit.
Bourne, 30, has been a free agent since he was released by the New England Patriots last week. He has not found a new home, despite taking free agent visits with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers.
Many believed the 49ers would reunite with Bourne, who spent the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco from 2017-20, since they have dealt with a number of injuries at the wide receiver position.
No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is expected to be out until mid-season as he continues to recover from a major knee injury suffered last season and No. 2 wide receiver Jauan Jennings has yet to practice this season while dealing with a calf injury. Jennings has also been seeking a new contract and made a trade request.
However, the 49ers opted to signed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling instead.
Bourne is entering the ninth season of his NFL career, having spent four seasons with the 49ers and four with the Patriots. Last season was his least-productive year since his rookie season, as he finished with just 28 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown.
He did start the season on the PUP list last year and was limited to 12 games after suffering a torn ACL in 2023 that cost him the final nine games of the season. Before that injury, he had played in 15 or more games for five consecutive seasons.
If Bourne is fully healthy, he could prove to be Pittsburgh’s missing piece. The team has a clear need at outside wide receiver behind DK Metcalf and he is predominantly an outside receiver.
Standing at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Bourne has recorded 292 catches for 3,714 yards and 22 touchdowns in his NFL career.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Potential Steelers WR Target to Weigh Options in Week 1
