Everyone hoped George Pickens' injury was only minor, but it looks more severe than initially let on. It looks like Pickens will be out for Week 15, but it's possible he could miss most of the rest of the regular season. If this proves to be the case, the lack of receiver depth could spell disaster for Pittsburgh's offense. They overcame his lack of Pickens' presence last week, but it might not continue.
For most of the season, everyone has talked about how the Steelers need to find more quality depth at receiver. From time to time, players on the roster have stepped up, but no one has been consistent. Pittsbrgh's offense hasn't been able to find a quality replacement for Diontae Johnson since they traded him this past offseason.
We will see what Mike Williams and Calvin Austin III can do while Pickens is away, but you cannot rely on those two to be a top receiver for a quality offense. Perhaps Pittsburgh will show some form of desperation with Pickens being out of the lineup for a couple of weeks.
Luckily for them, the Dolphins just cut a former high-profile receiver who could be a better replacement for Pickens than what the Steelers currently have.
Odell Beckham Jr. might be best option for Steelers receiving core
It has been a while since many held him in high regard, but Odell Beckham Jr. is now available late in the year. It is uncommon for a headline name like his to come up for grabs around this point in the schedule. There is a reason for that as Beckham has not been the impact player that Miami thought they were getting when they added him in free agency this past offseason.
Beckham has missed plenty of time this year, and it seems like his recovery from his prior knee surgery has not developed properly. The former All-Pro was once the young star of the NFL, but now it seems like his career could be fading away. If Beckham wants to keep going, the status of his knee situation will be a factor in his outcome. Pittsburgh will have to be cautious with that lingering problem for him.
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When you look at his numbers in the past few years, it isn't pretty. Beckham has not earned over 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2019. In the years after that campaign, he has totaled 20 touchdowns, but injuries have caused plenty of problems for him.
Beckham might not be the same type of player that he once was earlier in his career, but he could have something left in the tank.
Despite all the concerns about his knee, Beckham still has plenty of recognition that comes with his game. Since Pickens will be out of the lineup, it might be best for the Steelers to consider adding this former superstar onto their roster either through waiver pickup or free agency. He is a proven receiver who has shown that he can provide splash plays in the past.
Pittsburgh will have to figure out how desperate they are at receiver going forward. If they don't feel comfortable with what they have without Pickens, then they would be wise to be proactive. Adding Beckham might turn out to be a bust for the Steelers, but it might also provide a boom to their offense. As long as his knee is good to go, then it could be worth the shot of bringing him aboard.