The preseason may not matter. Fans pull for every player to get through healthy and with the best tape they can offer the league. But, making the star rookie quarterback look bad is one way to get on just about any fanbase’s list of cut hopefuls. Pittsburgh Steelers fans know a thing or two about frustrating wide receiver play, which is why there’s been such a revolving door at the position since 2018.
One of the wideouts who quickly went through that proverbial door may be on his way through another one after his performance in Friday night’s preseason game.
Van Jefferson is one such example, having played just one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. He caught just 24 passes on 40 targets for 276 yards and two scores despite playing over 700 snaps for the offense. Yinzers weren’t surprised to see the five-year veteran go after such a poor performance.
Titans are getting the same frustration Pittsburgh Steelers already felt with Van Jefferson
Jefferson made an enemy of the Tennessee Titans fanbase after he dropped an excellent pass from No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
The pass was quite impressive from the Miami product. Ward layered the pass over three Atlanta Falcons defenders to hit Jefferson in stride on a deep crossing route. But the ball bounced out of Jefferson’s hands.
In an unexpected turn, after the game, Ward told reporters that Jefferson said the pass was “a little bit out in front” of him on the drop. Ward said he’ll have to put it on Jefferson’s chest next time. While Ward did the standup thing in front of the media, there is an old saying for receivers about the ball being catchable if it hits your hands.
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Titans fans don’t seem to be having the excuse, though. A simple search of Jefferson’s name on X pulls up results of Titans fans baffled by Jefferson’s drop, while others suggest that Jefferson should not make the team over an undrafted free agent wideout, and former Ward target at Miami, Xavier Restrepo.
On the night, Jefferson recorded no stats, save for the drop. Jefferson has received three targets in his first two preseason games but remains without a catch despite lining up with Tennessee’s starters.
Surprisingly, Jefferson didn’t have a drop recorded in the stat sheet with the Steelers, according to Pro Football Reference. That might bewilder Steelers fans, seeing as he was largely ineffective for Pittsburgh’s offense. Still, Friday night’s drop certainly helped to justify the fan base’s feelings on his short time with the black and gold.