Robert Woods embraces the comparison, and why wouldn’t he? The Pittsburgh Steelers’ newest veteran wide receiver is surely familiar with the franchise leader in all major receiving categories.
“A little bit of Hines,” Woods said last week in reference to his playing style’s similarity to former Steelers star Hines Ward. “A little bit of Hines in there.”
Woods looked down at his practice jersey, No. 16.
“I’m missing the ‘8,’” Woods said, acknowledging Ward wore No. 86. “I got the ‘6,’ though.”
Arguably at the moment the closest thing to a WR2 on the Steelers’ depth chart, Woods joined the team as a free-agent signee late in the spring. He brings 171 games, 1,093 catches, 8,233 yards, 38 touchdowns and one Super Bowl ring of career experience to a receiving corps that lacks a definitively-proven, reliable starting-caliber option after the newly-acquired DK Metcalf.
At age 33 and coming off a 20-catch season, Woods is a clear production downgrade over George Pickens, the man he effectively replaced on the roster when Pickens was traded a week after the Steelers signed Woods. But the Steelers are banking on that what Woods might lack in production in his 13th NFL season he will more than make up for by way of the massive upgrade he provides in maturity and leadership.
That appeared to be paying immediate dividends over the first week of organized team activities when Woods was among the last of the 90-man roster to linger on the practice field after the sessions ended each day. And while he worked on his releases and footwork, some of the younger receivers followed his lead.
“We had a couple different shades of coverage today from our defense, so really just taking that practice, working on it, adding to it, and being able to combat it next week,” Woods said after Thursday’s workout. “Just being around the young guys, myself, I’m trying to get better. Maybe they see the same thing, and I’m trying to teach that if one guy’s getting better, the whole team is getting better, and keep elevating your game, and it elevates the team.”
Woods is listed at 6-foot, 193 pounds — not all that far off Ward’s listed playing sizes of 6-0, 205. And where Woods might emulate Ward the most is in his run blocking. That might also be an area where much of Woods’ value lies in the Steelers’ Arthur Smith-based, run-heavy scheme.
Three times over the past eight seasons, Woods graded as the NFL’s fourth best run-blocking wide receiver by Pro Football Focus. When compared to receivers who were asked to run block as often as Woods was, three times over that time span (since 2017) did Woods grade out as the best run-blocking WR. Five of the past eight years, he was in the top three under that criteria.
New Steelers WR Robert Woods says he plays “grimy,” and that that style in part comes from a background as a DB pic.twitter.com/kDIRe0W0e8
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 29, 2025
“A lot of (defensive players) are fake tough guys,” Woods said with a chuckle. “When you get hit, you kind of really see who’s really tough, but (I thrive at) being able to deliver the blow every single time. Obviously, you hit (some players) once, you know, he might come in a little different the next time, and that’s when you’re able to fight for those extra yards and get those first downs
“It’s a long game, and guys don’t want to be hit for four quarters, and you see that, and I think if you have a whole team who is delivering the blow every single play, I think you’ll see teams start turning down. That’s my experience through the NFL.”
some really nice blocking from the Rams TEs and Robert Woods on this WR-led Windback run concept pic.twitter.com/952OFtRItu
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 28, 2020
Woods was an elite high school sprinter, All-American football player and highly-coveted college recruit. His playing style and demeanor belie that, though.
Far from flashy, Woods prefers another term to describe himself.
“Grimy.”
“We’re going to be physical in our (position) room. We’re going to be grimy,” he said. “We’re going to be fighting to the end of the whistle, and just playing (hard) without the football, I think, is the biggest thing in our room.”
It should come as no surprise whom Woods credits as the “grimiest” member of the Steelers’ WR corps.
“I would have to say me,” Woods said with a smile.
“Yeah, I get down in it, whether it’s D-linemen, linebackers, safeties, corners, just playing physical. I’m with them throughout the football. I’m playing physical. If it’s third-and-6, and I’m 4 yards deep, we’re going to find a way to get those extra 2. If it’s without the football, blocking on the 1 (yard line), we’re making sure our running back gets in the end zone.”