The Steelers’ Search for a Wide Receiver
The Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the AFC so far this season, going 5-2 throughout the past seven weeks. This has been accomplished through the work of their offensive team, most notably their quarterbacks and wide receivers. Calvin Austin III and George Pickens, two notable wide receivers for the Steelers, have been in the spotlight this season. Both players are standouts on the offensive team and consistently perform well. However, the Steelers are looking out for more options when it comes to a backup wide receiver and recently added former Buffalo Bills’ Andy Isabella to the practice squad.
The new addition to the Pittsburgh Steelers is in his sixth season as an NFL player and was originally drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to his draft, Isabella played at the University of Massachusetts, where he started 45 games. In his time as a wide receiver in the NFL, he has started three and appeared in a total of 41 matches. Isabella has accumulated 33 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns from these appearances, and is looking to bring his talent onto the Steelers roster. It appears the Steel City team signed him to the practice squad with the hopes that he could be a viable option for their second-string wide receiver, a position that is yet to be filled.
Pickens, the starting wide receiver for the Steelers, has 160 yards across his last two games and had a standout performance against the New York Jets in Week Seven. However, there is a significant difference in ability between Pickens and Austin, and it seems that the Steelers are looking for a new wide receiver to bridge that gap. In order for Isabella to truly be able to be what the Steelers need, he will have to work well with both quarterbacks. While Russell Wilson was injured for the first six weeks, Justin Fields filled in and was able to put up strong performances. However, Wilson has since recovered and had a strong connection with Pickens in Week Seven, a match that Isabella can look to as an example as he starts his time with the Steelers.
