Michael Pittman Jr. Week One
Michael Pittman Jr. Week One
Michael Pittman Jr. believes he’ll have a much louder fall than summer. Quiet for the last several weeks and recovering from a leg injury, Pittman has no concerns about being ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
“I feel like, I’ve played enough football that I’ll be ready to go when it’s time,” Pittman said via The Trib’s Chris Adamski.
Michael Pittman Jr says despite missing so much practice time he’s not worried about being ready for the regular season opener pic.twitter.com/ZaxMJIX5we
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 24, 2026
Pittman’s confidence was buoyed by him dressing fully for Monday’s session. It’s unclear if he was a full participate but reporters noted he was in pads, joining fellow starting WR DK Metcalf. Both had previously last practiced on Saturday Aug. 8, the team’s night practice. Neither have played this preseason.
Monday was a day of positive injury news with rookie offensive linemen Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker also practicing along with the Steelers activating Jalen Ramsey from the Active/PUP after recovering from his spring knee injury.
Even before his injury, Pittman had made little noise. Still, he has a proven resume to point to as reasons why he can overcome a sluggish August that ended in us naming him our biggest disappointment of training camp.
It’s unclear but unlikely that he’ll play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills, meaning his first game action will come to begin the regular season. Pittsburgh needs Pittman and the rest of its pass catchers to make more high-impact plays than they did a year ago.
Pittman will also have to show he can get on the same page as quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a box that needs to be checked for any new face who plays with him.
In trading for him in March, the Steelers envisioned expanding Pittman’s route tree from a concentration of shorter routes to downfield opportunities. His lack of availability has made it difficult to gauge if that plan will be realized, but Pittman should be ready to open the year to begin answering that key question.
That should calm nerves of fans and fantasy owners alike, as they have taken a particular interest in his health throughout the summer.