When the Pittsburgh Steelers carried five receivers on the initial 53-man roster — one fewer than they had a year ago and two fewer than they kept in 2022 — it led to speculation they were holding a spot in case a trade for Brandon Aiyuk materialized.
Aiyuk’s decision Thursday to sign a contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers scuttled those hopes and makes it unlikely the Steelers will upgrade the position before the start of the regular season Sept. 8 in Atlanta.
The Steelers signed three receivers with NFL experience to the practice squad Friday — Brandon Johnson, Quez Watkins and Ben Skowronek — but otherwise have done little to alter the makeup of a position group that has remained intact since offseason workouts began in May.
Van Jefferson figures to get the first crack at starting alongside third-year receiver George Pickens. Calvin Austin is in the starting mix. Rounding out the group are former Tampa Bay and Atlanta receiver Scotty Miller and rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson.
And that seems to be fine with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“All I’m worried about is who I have,” Smith said earlier in the preseason. “Those are the things that are a fact of reality.”
The potential Aiyuk acquisition generated headlines throughout training camp, and rumors amped up when the Steelers emerged as the likeliest landing spot in the event the 49ers couldn’t re-sign their fifth-year receiver.
With Aiyuk off the table, the Steelers can move forward with the group the front office assembled after the trade that sent Diontae Johnson to Carolina in March.
“It’s a lot of wasted energy,” Smith said about trade speculation. “Everybody would love to have the perfect roster, but that just doesn’t exist, so you just deal with what the reality is. Like I said, whoever they bring in here, it’s our job and my job, more importantly, to worry about the guys who are here and put them in the best spots.”
Pickens and Austin, who is entering his second season on the active roster, are the only holders from the 2023 season. Jefferson was the first wide receiver the Steelers signed in free agency. His best NFL season was in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when he caught 50 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns while earning a Super Bowl ring. Miller wasn’t signed until May. His most productive season was in 2020 when he caught 33 passes for 501 yards and three touchdowns while also playing for a Super Bowl champion.
“I think the receivers that we ended up with, we like,” assistant general manager Andy Weidl said earlier this month. “We’ve added a lot of speed to that room. We liked Van Jefferson when he was coming out of the draft from Florida. … He’s a guy with high football character, and we respected him.
“Scotty Miller, his route savvy, his speed, his quickness (were attractive). … We like the room. We think that it’s growing and developing.”
Added Smith: “They have a lot of experience, and they’re hungry. They’ve both had excellent camps.”
With Wilson missing almost all of training camp and the entire preseason with an ankle injury, the Steelers likely will promote from the practice squad if they want to dress five receivers in Atlanta. Or, with three tight ends and multi-purpose back Connor Heyward in the fold, they could carry four.
“It is our job to figure it out,” Smith said. “You just have to have a contingency plan.”
Wilson’s impending return to becoming a full practice participant would help the cause. He led national champion Michigan with 48 receptions, 789 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final college season.
“As soon as I stepped into this receiver room, I’ve been very confident in these guys,” Wilson said. “If they decide to add somebody, that’s on them. I’m not focused on that, the same as everyone else in this building.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.