For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it was weird seeing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform in 2022. That only lasted a year, as the two sides did not reunite after the one-year deal expired. Instead, he joined the New England Patriots on a three-year, $25.5 million deal. Suddenly, Smith-Schuster in a Chiefs uniform didn't seem as weird.
Kansas City Chiefs
Former Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster somewhat revived his career with the Chiefs in 2022, as he had the second-best season in his career.
Just ahead of the season opener, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the wide receiver's knees are "a mess" and could "explode at any point" in an appearance on NBC Sports Boston. Unfortunately, the team didn't bring him onto the field for the final drive of their Week 1 contest. Down just three points, the coaches opted to send out two rookies instead of the veteran wideout. According to beat reporter Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, he may not even be a top-five option in their offense.
"Patriots coaches have said all the right things about Smith-Schuster’s lack of playing time: he’s smart and works hard, he’s a good player and they feel positively about the two rookies who played over him," Callahan said. "Multiple team sources believe Smith-Schuster is not presently among the team’s five most effective pass-catchers. According to those same sources, his place in the offense has been complicated by a variety of factors. Starts with health."
Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas explained that the team did what was needed to give them the best chance to score and win the game. Yes, that plan did not include Smith-Schuster. This isn't great news for a guy that just signed a $25.5 million deal. In his first game with the Patriots, the USC product had mixed results. He caught four of his seven targets for 33 receiving yards against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Steven Senne / AP
Former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster doesn't seem to be living up to expectations so far with the New England Patriots.
At this point, it seems like his name is overweighing his true abilities. At this point, it's clear that he benefitted greatly from having Antonio Brown next to him. In that breakout sophomore campaign, Smith-Schuster had career-highs in catches (111) and receiving yards (1,426), which ranked tied-for-sixth and fifth in the NFL, respectively.
Do The Steelers Miss The Physical Presence Of Smith-Schuster?
This isn't the only former Steelers player that's struggling to find his footing early in the 2023 campaign. Wide receiver Chase Claypool had a poor performance in Week 1, and he seems to be falling out of favor in Chicago now. If you remember, the Steelers somehow acquired a second-round draft pick that landed them Joey Porter Jr. in the trade last season.
Recent reports suggest that there's a possibility that Claypool is a healthy inactive for the Bears' Week 2 game. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. We've seen it in the past with plenty of Steelers players moving onto new teams, specifically at the wide receiver position. Mike Wallace is perhaps the most notable example, as he moved on after failing to reach an extension with the AFC North side.
USA Today Sports
Former Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace left the team after four seasons in Pittsburgh, and he was never able to have the same success after.
Ultimately, it's still hard to blame Smith-Schuster for leaving Pittsburgh. By the end of his five-year tenure, it was clear that both sides were ready to move on. He was able to win a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, the first of his career. Still, it's interesting to wonder just what went wrong in his ascension to stardom.
Do you think Smith-Schuster made a mistake not returning to Pittsburgh after the 2021 season? Was his 2018 breakout season largely due to Antonio Brown garnering a majority of the defense's attention? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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