Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. aggravated a foot injury in Wednesday's practice and is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks, coach Mike Mc Carthy said Thursday. Pittman had been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, which caused him to miss the Week 2 game against the New England Patriots. He was seen using a scooter to keep weight off the foot in the locker room after practice. "It's the same foot, so it's going to be a multiple-week injury," Mc Carthy said.
The Steelers acquired Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts in a March trade for a late-round pick swap and later signed him to a three-year, $59 million extension. The 29-year-old was productive and versatile in six seasons with Indianapolis, including two 1,000-yard campaigns, but he has struggled to make an impact in Pittsburgh, catching just seven passes on 12 targets for 89 yards. He also missed a large portion of training camp with a separate, undisclosed injury. His absence comes as the Steelers prepare to face his former team on Sunday.
Without Pittman, Pittsburgh will rely more heavily on third-year receiver Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard. Wilson has become one of quarterback Aaron Rodgers' go-to targets, catching touchdown passes in Weeks 3 and 4 and averaging 13.4 yards per reception. Bernard, a second-round pick out of Alabama, has seven receptions on 11 targets for 60 yards.
The defense may receive a boost soon, as the Steelers opened the 21-day practice window for safety De Shon Elliott to return from injured reserve. Elliott suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8 of the 2025 season. Mc Carthy also said starting cornerback Jamel Dean felt better than expected after exiting Thursday night's loss to the Browns with an ankle injury, though Dean did not practice Wednesday.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing