How the Steelers proceeded in 2021 without JuJu?

Free Agency

The most obvious solution would be for the Steelers to sign an available free agent to replace JuJu’s spot. It’s not like there are no options that they could sign. No sooner than he was injured, fans and analysts started throwing around names such as Golden Tate, John Brown, Anthony Miller, Nelson Agholor, and Devon Fuchness, to name some, and there are a few others.

Any of these players, especially Golden Tate and Nelson Agholor, had their time in the NFL spotlight and were good receivers for a time. Could any of them step in and fill the void left by JuJu’s exit to the injured reserve list? Possibly they could, but common sense dictates probably not.

By the time most of these receivers were let go by their respective teams, most were on their last legs, some having played full careers, and others were putting up paltry numbers. So while signing a free agent could be a quick fix for the Steelers, there is no guarantee it pays dividends for them.

However, of all the possibilities out there, one name kept floating to the surface, and that was Anthony Miller. A 2018 draft choice by the Bears, he went a few selections ahead of James Washington. The bears traded him to Houston earlier this year, and then the Texans cut him.

Ok, the Steelers did not rush out and sign Miller to the starting roster, but they took a more leisurely approach and signed him to the practice squad. The Steelers can continue for now; however, they do have the extra receiver they can throw into the lineup if need be.  It may not solve the situation; however, it is better than a knee-jerk reaction.