It's been an ugly tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver/return man Gunner Olszewski. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin continues to give the former New England Patriots All-Pro returner chances, but he fails to deliver. After sneaking his way onto the 53-man roster this season, things haven't gotten much better. Despite showing signs of improvements at wide receiver in the summer, that hasn't held true.
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Along with winning the job as the Steelers' third-string running back, Anthony McFarland Jr. has established himself as the clear kick returner when healthy.
In two appearances this season, Olszewski has one catch for zero yards. The team opted for Anthony McFarland Jr. to be the primary kick returner, while Calvin Austin III has handled the punt returns. In Week 5, Olszewski was active against the Baltimore Ravens due to injuries throughout the Steelers roster. After another poor performance, some thought that his time could be coming to an end in Pittsburgh. Not so fast, at least according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Not sure that's in the plan right now," Dulac said when a reader asked what the plan would be if Olszewski gets cut.
In other words, Dulac believes the team will hold on to Olszewski through the Week 6 bye. Things could change as the season evolves, particularly as more guys become healthy on the 53-man roster. That includes McFarland, who is expected to return from his IR stint in Week 7. In his first professional season, Austin has established himself as a valuable member of this team in multiple areas.
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Steelers wideout Calvin Austin III has displayed his speed on multiple occasions in his 2023 rookie campaign, and the team has used him as its primary punt returner as well.
Austin has averaged just over five yards per punt return across six attempts. Late in the fourth quarter of the Week 5 divisional matchup, Olszewski coughed up a costly fumble on special teams. Luckily for him, rookie Joey Porter Jr. snagged an interception in the end zone to prevent the Ravens from scoring. As a result, Olszewski didn't end up being nearly the scapegoat that he would've if the Steelers would've lost.
Why Have The Steelers Held On To Olszewski For So Long?
Olszewski admitted that he owed the rookie Porter a "huge gift" after the interception in Week 5. It's been a reoccurring theme for him while in Pittsburgh. In just under 20 touches with the team, he has four fumbles. Not to mention, those have all come at crucial times. Combine those fumbles with the silly kickoff gaffe that he made in Week 2, and he has been nothing short of awful in 2023 again.
Both McFarland and Desmond King II should now be ahead of Olszewski in the pecking order in the return game. McFarland has done quite well in a limited sample size, as he has over 90 kick return yards across three attempts. While it may not seem like a big deal, especially in today's day and age in which kick returns are becoming nearly extinct, it is simply a success to not have to send Olszewski out there.
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Steelers' Gunner Olszewski hasn't seen the field on offense, and he has been subpar on special teams in his first two years with the team.
With Diontae Johnson also coming back in Week 7, the wide receiver depth room could theoretically get rid of one guy. It's curious as to why Tomlin continues to hold on to Olszewski, whom is in the second and final year of his $4 million contract. It did seem like Tomlin was running out of patience with him, as he clearly called out Olszewski a few weeks ago. Regardless, it's clear the experiment hasn't quite worked out in Pittsburgh.
Why do you think the team continues to hold on to Olszewski? Will the former All-Pro returner make it through the end of the season? How do you think Austin has done on punt returns? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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