With one well-timed tackle JuJu Smith Schuster was done for the 2021 season. Not welcomed news for the Steelers after their big win over Denver.
The Steelers had just upset the Broncos in stunning fashion and then lost their number one receiver. As it happens with most teams in the NFL, the Steelers season will go on but without JuJu Smith-Schuster. However, most fans are asking how they go on without being affected by the loss of JuJu.
No sooner than the news broke of his injury, names of potential free agents began circulating over the internet on the belief the Steelers would have to find a free agent wide receiver to replace JuJu. Fans need to keep in mind that the Steelers organization is not known for knee-jerk reactions, and this means a free agent signing to the active squad is more of a possibility than a probability. Plus, the Pittsburgh media postulated that the Steelers might not make any moves to replace JuJu and have all they need on their team.
The Steelers have options at their disposal for them to utilize. It just depends on what they feel their best option is. It can range from making modifications to their offensive game plan or to signing a free agent.
In the last five days, the Steelers have already mulled their options and begun their preparations to move forward without their star receiver. So here is what fans can expect from the Steelers for the remainder of the 2021 season post-JuJu Smith-Schuster.
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.
Steelers James Washington
Ok, they added Miller to the practice squad; they still do not have a replacement for JuJu, or do they? Don’t forget behind Smith-Schuster, Johnson, and Claypool is James Washington. Washington has taken his knocks and did not have a great 2018 season, and even 2020 was lackluster.
Then there were the supposed trade rumors that had surfaced in the pre-season. Well, no trade emerged, and Washington is still on the team. This may be his time to shine and show he is just as great as the other receivers on the team.
Bear in mind in 2019, when Big Ben got hurt and the ensuing injury to JuJu Smith-Schuster, which sidelined him for several weeks, who stepped up to help Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges? James Washington. He finished 2019 with 44 receptions and 735 yards with three touchdowns. Granted, he did not have the benefit of Roethlisberger throwing to him, or perhaps his numbers could have been higher. Nonetheless, he stepped up, helping keep the Steelers in the playoff hunt until the end of the season.
This year the Steelers have used him sparingly so far, and that is about to change. Whether or not the rumors of him wanting more playing time was true, he will get just that. If he steps up in a huge way to fill the void left by JuJu, it could lead to a new contract with the Steelers or help him if he chooses to go. That aside, no one can deny Washington has never been a talented receiver though he has played 2nd fiddle to receivers slightly more talented.
If Washington steps up like he is capable, JuJu’s loss may be negligible. However, what happens if he fails to deliver with his chance?
By Committee
Barring a failure of James Washington to step up in the Steelers’ time of need, then it will be a revolving door of wide receivers in that third position. You can expect to see RayRay McCloud get a lot more playing time, and then with him, you can expect Cody White to get a lot more snaps.
As Pittsburgh Post Gazette reporter Brian Batko wrote in his article, fans can expect the Steelers to replace JuJu by committee. Whoever seems to be doing well goes in and plays, and the Steelers will just rotate in whoever they think will work best in the particular play they are running.
Of course, if any of those three end up having particular success in the slot, they will get more snaps. JuJu was undoubtedly the Steelers’ best slot receiver and lined up there the most.
Hopefully, James Washington can be that guy; if not, expect to see all of their receiver options being used in the slot until they find someone who begins having success. From a fan’s perspective or especially a fantasy football perspective, it’s not a best-case scenario, but you do what you have to to get a win in the NFL.
Tight ends
While the Steelers are tweaking the slot position, trying to find who steps up and takes up the slack, there are other options that they will employ, or at least should employ, especially if the replacement receivers do not pull up the extra slack.
With JuJu gone, it makes sense to modify your plays or incorporate new plays that make use of or incorporate the tight ends into the passing game. That’s exactly what Matt Canada should at least think of doing at any rate. The Steelers have a luxury most teams do not, and they have both Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth. Both are capable of breaking big plays; it makes sense to use them.
With the emergence of Freiermuth, Ebron’s productivity has dropped off from 2020. It wouldn’t take much to start working them into the game plan. Frankly, both can at times be as productive as JuJu was; Freiermuth can also be a touchdown maker if Ben throws to him in the RedZone.
Besides, we all know Big Ben likes to throw to the tight end; look at all his success with Heath Miller. It could be a strategy that pays dividends over the coming weeks.
Najee Harris
Syracuse coach Floyd Burdette Schwartzwalder supposedly once told his coaching staff when you have a stallion, you don’t keep him in the stable. The supposed quote was in reference to Syracuse freshman Ernie Davis. Whether Najee Harris can be compared to the likes of Ernie Davis is one thing; however, he is a stallion nonetheless.
After his lackluster week one performance, Najee has stepped up and gotten better each week, culminating in his first hundred-yard rushing game in week five. And in case you missed it, Najee had the most receptions of any Steelers running back or player in his first four games. Not only can he run he has morphed into an excellent receiving back as well.
Sometimes as the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, if Najee can catch and run and gain yardage, then perhaps there is no need to worry about JuJu. Get the ball into the hands of your young stallion, let him do the work, and make the big plays. Then perhaps no one will remember that JuJu was even missing from the offense.
At this point, with the addition of Anthony Miller to the practice squad, it’s obvious the Steelers do not need to take any draconian measures. No knee-jerk reactions to make some big free-agent signing and no big last-minute trade. They feel they have the means and the talent to move on from JuJu’s injury and still compete.
Teams may not always make the correct decisions in matters like this; however, it may be the best course of action in the case of the Steelers.