Since early in the offseason, wide receiver was a concerning position on the Steelers' roster. Now that Pittsburgh is more than halfway into the 2024 season, this hasn't changed. Despite flashes from third-year WR Calvin Austin III and Pittsburgh's aggressiveness to trade for Mike Williams before the deadline, their efforts have fallen short.
Williams, a 30-year-old receiver acquired from the Jets, had a brilliant touchdown catch in his first game wearing the black and gold threads against the Commanders. However, he was non-existent against the Ravens in Week 11.
George Pickens is a legitimate threat who draws the WR1 treatment from opposing defenses, but the rest of the group lacks a difference-maker. Williams, Austin, and Van Jefferson (Pittsburgh's second, third, and fourth wide receivers on the team), combined for negative one yard on two targets against Baltimore last week.
After hitting an all-time low at the WR2 position, former Steelers star Antonio Brown took to 'X' with an offer the Steelers (almost) can't refuse.
Offer still out there to come back and play for the Steelers for free to finish the season 👀
— AB (@AB84) November 21, 2024
Brown insists that he will sign with Pittsburgh for nothing and play out the remainder of the season. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but are the Steelers this desperate?
Antonio Brown reunion with Steelers isn't happening
Antonio Brown was once considered one of the best players in the entire NFL... and not just for a short time. Brown was the biggest success story of the 2010s -- a sixth-round pick who worked his way up the ladder to become an unstoppable force on offense.
Eventually, Brown earned four first-team All-Pros and seven Pro Bowl honors in what looked like a Hall of Fame career. Unfortunately, the troubled receiver burned every bridge with the organization before forcing his way off the team via trade.
In a perfect world, this would be an ideal 'prodigal son' story. An immature player who once had a great relationship with Mike Tomlin leaves on bad terms only to run back into the arms of the team he never should have left.
But that ship has sailed.
Brown ripped off his Buccaneers jersey and gave his 'peace out' to the NFL back in 2021. He was 33 years old at the time. Now the former superstar is 36 years old and has dealt with an array of off-field incidents in recent years.
If the Steelers had found themselves in this situation a few years ago and Brown's antics weren't so extreme, maybe... just maybe... the 'prodigal son' could return home. Pittsburgh is desperate for wide receiver help, but not that desperate.