Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (51) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Germie Bernard had the best game of his rookie season in Sunday’s victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Otherwise, about the only thing the Steelers wide receivers are catching these days is bad luck.
With Michael Pittman Jr. already on injured reserve until after the bye week, the Steelers discovered they will be without two other receivers for this week’s game against Tampa Bay — and maybe longer.
Coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that Roman Wilson (hand) and Ben Skowronek (calf) will not play against the Buccaneers. Both were injured in the 34-22 victory against the Colts and never returned.
McCarthy was noncommittal about possibly bringing in another receiver to help fill the void. One player who will get more opportunities is Brandon Smith, who was elevated from the practice squad Sunday and played 16 snaps against the Colts.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Colts at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
“I’ve known Brandon a long time, and he’s earned this opportunity,” McCarthy said at his weekly press conference. “We definitely feel very good about Brandon moving forward. So he’ll definitely get more opportunities.”
Aaron Rodgers has some familiarity with Smith after spending one season with him with the New York Jets in 2024. But Smith, who is 6 feet 2, 215 pounds, played just one snap that season.
“B-Smith has taken a lot of offensive reps,” Rodgers said, referring to practice sessions. “I’ve been around him for a few years ... and always enjoyed him being on the field and his ability. I think he’s a talented guy.”
The Steelers don’t have many options. The only other possibility is return specialist Kaden Wetjen, who was a wide receiver at Iowa but hasn’t played an offensive snap this season.
Bernard, who had six catches on nine targets for 80 yards against the Colts, will assume an even larger role in the offense. Without Pittman, opponents will focus even more attention on DK Metcalf, who had just three catches for 14 yards Sunday.
“Football comes easy to him,” McCarthy said of Bernard. “I think there’s some young-guy mistakes he made [Sunday], but you could see it coming. He’s acclimated himself very well to the offense, the ability to play all three positions. He sticks his nose in there in the run game, too. I’ve been very, very impressed.”
Roberts is back
The Steelers have signed former starting inside linebacker Elandon Roberts to the practice squad, but not because of any injuries at the position.
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren carries for a touchdown as he gets by Colts linebacker Bryce Boettcher during the first half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Roberts was brought back in August during training camp and quickly made his presence felt with his trademark physical style. But he was let go during the final cut.
“We’re trying to get better,” McCarthy said. “All these opportunities we’re creating for players who are here, we’re trying to improve the team. He’s a veteran who has done some great things throughout his career. This man just wants to win. You can’t have enough people like that.”
A new perspective
After years of working upstairs in the coaches box, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was brought down to the sidelines against the Colts. He said he was “comfortable” with the move.
McCarthy made the move because he wanted Graham to have more direct contact with the players. It was no doubt a response to what happened in Cleveland, when T.J. Watt had to get on a headset to have an animated discussion with Graham.
“We thought it was best,” Graham said. “Coach has been leaning toward that since the beginning. It was fun to be able to communicate directly with the players.”
Graham said a perfect example of why the move was beneficial came on the last defensive play of the game — an incomplete pass from Daniel Jones to Keenan Allen on fourth-and-15 that cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. broke up.
“We saw that play before, and as soon as I’m going to say what we’re doing, they’re looking at me. And I saw their faces, they saw mine, and I said that’s what we’re going to do,” Graham said.
Keeping good company
After a career-best 188 scrimmage yards against the Colts, Jaylen Warren is third in the NFL with 640 total after five games. The only players above him are Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (747) and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson (732) — not the type of running backs with whom you would expect Warren to keep company.
While Gibbs and Robinson are the type of fast backs who can get to the edge, Warren is a between-the-tackles runner who bounces off defenders like a spinning top.
Still, despite not having the same speed as Gibbs (4.36) and Robinson (4.46) — Warren ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 2022 — no Colts defender was able to close the gap on him on his 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown or his 50-yard touchdown run.
Warren said he did not look at the video board to see if anyone was chasing him, something other players occasionally do.
“I just knew I had to stay outside [on the 80-yard touchdown] and just run fast,” Warren said, “make sure I didn’t trip.”
It was subtle reference to the Sept. 27 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Warren tripped and fell untouched at the 6-yard line on his way to what would’ve been a 32-yard touchdown run.
Rodgers took a big hit from nose tackle Grover Stewart on the play and never thought it would result in the longest touchdown pass since he connected with DK Metcalf for an 80-yard score last season in Ireland.
“It’s fun to watch him go down the sideline,” Rodgers said of Warren. “You think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a big play. Now it’s 20, now it’s 30, now it’s 40. ... Oh, he might score. Oh, that’s cool.’ I really didn’t have to do anything other than take a shot.”
First Published: October 12, 2026, 2:51 p.m.