Steelers Now
DK Metcalf helps, but he isn’t a cure-all. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 receiver is past his two-game suspension, and the Houston Texans will have him highlighted in their defensive game plan.
That’s exactly why the Steelers will need more contributions.
While Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is happy to have Metcalf back in the fold, he recognized on Tuesday that the offense is more than just him. It’ll take everyone against the NFL’s stingiest defense.
“Certainly awesome to have DK back, but we’re not gonna exhale and think that DK automatically, with his presence, is gonna be a difference or the difference,” Tomlin said. “Football is the ultimate team game. It’s gonna require a great effort from all parties involved, but certainly excited about doing it with him.”
Without Metcalf, who had to sit out his team’s games against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens due to an incident with a fan in Detroit, the Steelers rolled with Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller, Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Roman Wilson.
“I just think sometimes when you’re lacking significant players, it’s opportunities for others to show what they’re capable of and to accelerate growth and development and cohesion in other areas,” Tomlin said.
Thielen hasn’t been with the Steelers for a month yet. Tomlin pointed to Thielen’s process of meshing with the offense and feels it was hastened by the past two weeks. Tailbacks Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren have been part of the passing game, too, and “their ability to turn short into longer has bridged the gap for us in a lot of ways,” Tomlin said.
“Certainly relationships and trust and the ability to anticipate and work with others at the quarterback/receiver combination is significant,” Tomlin said. “And so it’s not only DK missing games, but he missed practices, and (Aaron Rodgers’ passes) go elsewhere daily in practices, so certainly I’m sure there was some residual benefit in terms of him doing so, not only in the two games, but in the two weeks.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Tomlin: Steelers Can’t Be DK Metcalf Show vs. Texans
