Diontae Johnson has been ruled out this week due to a hamstring injury that he suffered this past Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. It seems like he could come back in a couple of weeks but there are reports that his injury will be reevaluated once the injury settles down. That could mean a lengthier absence for Johnson is a possibility.
Cameron Heyward missing time could be a difference in the season and now Johnson out of the lineup for the foreseeable future could just add more water to a ship that seems to be sinking faster by the minute this early into the season. The Steelers will try and replace his production internally first, but they could get desperate and look at external options, especially if Johnson is out more than just a few weeks.
Even when Johnson is healhty, the Steelers could use some added firepower on offense, and this will especially be the case if he misses extended action. Here are four outside options they could pursue at the position.
Robbie Chosen could be an outside option for Pittsburgh to bring in
One option that is out there right now is Robbie Chosen, formerly known as Robbie Anderson. He has been up and down throughout his NFL career and has not posted quality numbers since 2020. He is signed on the Miami Dolphins practice squad, so he could sign to the Steelers active roster without any issue. Chosen is more of a complimentary piece at this point in his career, but he could help.
The name of the game for Chosen is his speed and the length that he naturally possesses. That is something that the coaching staff could also see as a tool to check out his potential as a special teams player, especially with Miles Boykin also suffering some bumps and bruises early on. Chosen has put up good numbers in the past and could provide a deep threat to the offense.
Kenny Golladay is a been there done it option for the Steelers
Another proven receiver available to sign at any time is Kenny Golladay. He is still a free agent after getting little to no interest between the start of the offseason until now. It is somewhat surprising with the number of teams that are in desperate need of help on their respective teams. He is far from his great seasons in Detroit, but he might be worth a look.
After two great years from 2018 through 2019, Golladay was expected to have another monster year in 2020. He ended up missing most of that year and went into free agency where the New York Giants took a gamble on him. They signed him to a lucrative deal, but things never really worked out for either party in that marriage.
Golladay only made it halfway through his monster contract with the Giants before he was cut due to his cap situation. He never played up to the massive cap number that he carried with the club and was released back in March. The black and gold could probably do better at receiver, but the options are few and far between right now.
This receiver is someone who has been a proven receiver in the NFL in the past and has taken on that top receiver role. The issue is that he has not been able to get close to those numbers in the past four seasons. A bunch of injuries and missed time have shrunken his chances but he could be a boom-or-bust guy if the Steelers get desperate enough at the position.
Austin Watkins Jr. would be nice to steal from Cleveland's practice squad
Sometimes it is the name that not many know about that makes the difference in the NFL. Austin Watkins Jr. had an amazing preseason and was the top receiver in plenty of categories during those three games. He even had a strong training camp with the Cleveland Browns. He missed out on the active roster because of the talent in that room.
Watkins is a former undrafted free agent out of UAB during the 2021 NFL Draft. He started with the 49ers then went to the Buccaneers before spending time in the CFL and USFL. He was able to do enough to garner another shot in the NFL. Watkins then signed with the Browns and was able to make a name for himself throughout the preseason process.
The good news is that Watkins is still only 25 years old and is the youngest option to sign on this article. Another good thing is that this receiver is available to sign off Cleveland's practice squad whenever Pittsburgh would like to. The bad news is that he has no significant NFL experience from his previous times in the NFL.
Another issue is the lack of special teams that Watkins was not able to provide during the preseason. That might have gotten him on the Browns final roster if he was able to provide more snaps there. The Steelers could take a gamble here if depth at receiver or more starters get lost due to injuries. Watkins has talent that could interest the coaches in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers could trade for Mike Evans if Diontae Johnson is out long-term
If Johnson is lost for longer than a couple of weeks and requires surgery, it is possible that the Steelers look at trade options. George Pickens and Allen Robinson II will probably be the starters on the outside with Calvin Austin III in the slot. Pat Freiermuth will also play a bigger role and so will Darnell Washington in the receiving game.
If they cannot pick up the slack that Johnson's loss will create, Pittsburgh might have to make a move. The top receiver on the trade block right now is none other than Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been one of the most consistent receivers in football over the past decade and would upgrade any offense in the league.
A lot of this would have to hinge on plenty of situations becoming reality. The Steelers offense would need to struggle at receiver, but the club would also need to be in a spot where they are competitive enough to be in the playoff race. It seems like Evans is available, but the Bucs are going to wait and see how this season progresses before moving him.
If Tampa Bay shocks the world and has a winning record by the deadline, they could just keep Evans to help them into the postseason. If they struggle then they could trade the veteran receiver, who is on an expiring contract heading into this offseason. Evans would be a rental for the Steelers, but it will all depend on Johnson and his long-term health going forward.