Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is officially sidelined for multiple weeks after re-injuring his foot, a brutal blow for a player who hasn’t been able to live up to the massive three-year, $59 million contract Pittsburgh handed him in March. This isn’t just a bump in the road, it’s a major setback for both Pittman and a team that shelled out big cash expecting big production.
This Is The Same Foot, Folks
It’s bad enough to get hurt, but it’s a whole other level of frustrating when it’s a re-injury to the *same foot*. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the news today, stating Pittman will miss Sunday’s game against his former team, the Colts, and then some. “It’s the same foot, so it’s going to be a multiple-week injury,” McCarthy said. He also dropped a bombshell, adding, “We’re still going through the evaluation of his roster position,” which sounds a whole lot like a trip to injured reserve could be on the horizon. This isn’t just “missing a game,” this is a serious problem that’s going to keep him out for a while.
$59 Million For 89 Yards? Yikes.
Let’s be real, the Steelers made a significant play for Pittman back in March, trading for him and then locking him down with that $59 million extension. But so far, the investment has returned pennies on the dollar. He’s only managed seven catches for a paltry 89 yards this season. This is a guy who was a 2020 second-round pick out of USC, a guy who put up two 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Colts. He looked like a future star! But his production dipped with Indianapolis over the last couple of years, and now with this re-injury, Pittsburgh’s primary focus is just getting him healthy.
Right now, the Steelers have to figure out how to navigate their offense without their big-money receiver for an extended period. Getting Pittman healthy is the absolute top priority, especially given that hefty contract. You have to wonder what this means for their receiving corps moving forward and if they’ll need to adjust their game plan to cover his absence.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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