The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding to their wide receivers room after the suspension to DK Metcalf.
According to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo, Pittsburgh is signing 27-year-old veteran wide receiver Brandon Johnson to their practice squad.
"The Steelers are signing WR Brandon Johnson to the practice squad, per source," DeFabo reported.
Johnson was with the Steelers in training camp this year before he suffered a foot injury in the preseason finale and was cut loose. He appeared in one game for the Steelers last season, totaling one catch for nine yards.
Johnson has appeared in 23 games during his career, reeling in 26 receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns. His best season came in 2023 with the Denver Broncos, when he caught 19 balls for 284 yards and four scores.
Of course, the signing of Johnson comes on the heels of Metcalf's two-game suspension for an incident with a Detroit Lions fan being upheld.
It's a tough blow to a Steelers receivers room that was already lacking sufficient talent. Making matters worse for Pittsburgh, Calvin Austin is dealing with a hamstring injury and his status for Week 17 is uncertain.
Now, the Steelers will have to depend on guys like Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and maybe Roman Wilson, among other unattractive options at wide receiver over the final two games.
On the bright side, the Steelers are on the brink of clinching a playoff berth this week, so it might not matter in the grand scheme of things.
The Steelers can do that on Saturday if the Baltimore Ravens lose to the Green Bay Packers, or on Sunday if Pittsburgh can defeat the Cleveland Browns.
If the Steelers can clinch a playoff berth this week, Metcalf's suspension won't hurt them at all. However, if Pittsburgh ends up facing a do-or-die Week 18 contest against Baltimore, Metcalf's suspension will loom incredibly large.
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