The Pittsburgh Steelers made a move at wide receiver early this week that had fans, well... rather underwhelmed. On Monday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz announced that veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling was making his Steelers reunion by signing with the practice squad.
Valdes-Scantling spent the nine games with the organization last season after being released by the San Francisco 49ers with an injury settlement in October 2025. MVS earned a helmet from Week 14 to Week 18 last year, but his performance left much to be desired.
In five games with the Steelers last season, Valdes-Scantling caught just 10 of 21 passes (47.6%) for a mere 80 yards while chipping in one touchdown. His 38.1 percent success rate and dismal 3.8 yards per target ranked near the bottom of the league among players with at least 20 targets last season.
Now 32, MVS hasn't topped 19 receptions in a single season since 2023, when he recorded 21 receptions while playing with Patrick Mahomes. Not only does this Steelers signing not move the needle, but it could actually make the offense worse if Valdes-Scantling has to see the field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't let MVS steal opportunities from their young wide receivers
To reiterate, Valdes-Scantling is only on the practice squad right now. But we've seen this song and dance before. Because Michael Pittman Jr. is on the Reserve/Injured list and Roman Wilson is out for multiple weeks with a finger injury, the Steelers may simply be getting MVS up to speed before he sees the active roster.
If or when he does, head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers cannot allow Valdes-Scantling to cut into the opportunities of the young receivers on the roster.
Germie Bernard is coming off a breakout performance that included 11 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old second-round pick has now strung together impressive back-to-back games early in his season. Meanwhile, Roman Wilson showed flashes prior to the finger injury. His speed, quickness, and ability to create space should still make him the team's WR3 when he returns.
The Steelers know this, right? I wouldn't be too sure.
Rodgers and MVS go way back to when they spent four years together from 2018 to 2021 in Green Bay. These were some of the best years of Rodgers' career, in which he earned two MVP awards and four Pro Bowls. Valdes Scantling was a part of that, as the deep threat averaged over 500 receiving yards per season while putting up 13 touchdowns and leading the NFL in yards per reception once in 2020 (20.9).
But that was then, and this is now.
These days, MVS is nothing more than a borderline rosterable player (who truly belongs on a practice squad). Perhaps that's where he'll stay. But you'll have to forgive me if I have my doubts, based on what we saw late last season.
Instead of rolling with younger, fresher players and giving Wilson a crack at making an impact, the Steelers appeased Rodgers by signing not just MVS, but Adam Thielen as well. Thielen was even older and worse for the team—proving to be completely washed up.
This griping could all be for nothing, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been one of the least efficient receivers in the NFL for three years now. And if he gets promoted to the active roster and takes opportunities away from Bernard and Wilson, it will almost certainly make the Steelers' offense worse.
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