DK Metcalf said Michael Pittman Jr. has already looked like a natural fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers, calling him a great teammate who has applied himself in the offense and jelled with everyone around him. The praise came as Pittman is expected to be ready for the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, giving the Steelers a chance to see whether the receiver’s early chemistry off the field carries over once the games count.
Metcalf made the comments on Thursday, offering a glimpse of how Pittman has been received in his first months with Pittsburgh under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy. Pittman was traded to the Steelers and has been viewed as the kind of big-bodied target the team wanted opposite Metcalf, someone who can draw attention away from him while working inside a West Coast-style offense built for Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy.
That makes the public endorsement more meaningful than a routine compliment. Pittman missed a chunk of training camp after an injury in the Saturday Night Lights practice and did not see any preseason action, so the Steelers have not yet had a long look at him in live game settings. Metcalf, though, said Pittman has handled the transition the right way, describing the receiver’s professional approach and the way he has fit with the group.
The gap between reputation and readiness is still there. Pittman has been consistent throughout his career in Indianapolis regardless of who was under center, which is part of why Pittsburgh wanted him, but the Steelers still need to see whether that production shows up quickly enough after the missed time. The first real answer comes in the season opener, where Pittman appears set to play and where Pittsburgh can finally test whether the fit that has looked so smooth in the locker room can become one on the field.
