Steelers Have A Rare Late Season Opportunity To Upgrade After Patriots Waive Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up to take on the hardest part of their schedule as the team is currently preparing to travel to the other side of Pennsylvania to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. After that game, Pittsburgh will clash with the Baltimore Ravens for the second time in the 2024 season, and the Steelers will then host the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh is going to need all the help it can get to win these games, so the hamstring injury to George Pickens could not have come at a worse time. 

Ahead of the Steelers’ Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns, news came out that Pickens was dealing with a hamstring injury. He was ruled out against Cleveland, and on Monday, news broke that the injury may be worse than originally thought. There is the potential that Pickens could miss the game against the Eagles, and possibly even more. Pittsburgh saw some receivers step up against the Browns in Pickens' absence, like Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, and Mike Williams, but the organization could certainly use more help at the position if Pickens is going to miss time.

An opportunity to help the wide receiver position arose on Tuesday, as the New England Patriots announced that they would be parting ways with wide receiver KJ Osborn, which was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Osborn is most known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings, as that organization selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played four seasons for the Vikings, and he was an extremely productive wide receiver from 2021 through 2023. During that three-year span, the wide receiver caught 110 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Osborn became a free agent following the 2023 season, and he obviously wasn't a priority to re-sign for Minnesota as they have one of the best wide receiver-duos on their roster in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The wide receiver chose to sign with New England on a one-year deal worth just $4 million. 

It was a bit shocking to see such a productive wide receiver not get offered a better deal during free agency, but it is also understandable. Being a wide receiver on the same team as the best player at the position in the league, and an up and coming star in Addison likely makes the job a little easier. This could have given teams doubts about Osborn's true abilities.

Osborn's time in New England has seemed to be miserable. He has been inactive for five games, and he has only caught seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown on the year. It was surprising to see the talented receiver not get dealt at the trade deadline, but now he has a chance to choose his next home, which cold very well be the Steelers if Pickens' injury doesn't improve.

Steelers Seem To Be Happy With Their Current Situation At Wide Receiver

The Steelers probably should make an attempt to sign Osborn, but the organization probably won't. Pittsburgh probably could have landed the wide receiver at the trade deadline for a seventh round pick, but no reports came out about the Steelers being in talks with New England. If the Steelers didn't want him then, it is hard to imagine they want him now, but Pickens' injury could change things.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin also spoke to the media following the win over the Browns, and he took jabs at the media for suggesting the team needed help at wide receiver for basically the last six months. He seems to have a ton of faith in the guys behind Pickens in the wide receiver room, so a move for Osborn may be unlikely.

Do you want the Steelers to sign Osborn? Let us know in the comments below!

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