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Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan is reportedly making calls around the league to address the team's depleted wide receiver room, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The Steelers are down to just two reliable targets for quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson were placed on Injured Reserve. Despite a gritty Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the organization recognizes the need for reinforcements.
In his Substack update, The Sweep with Tom Pelissero, the insider noted that Khan is exploring the market, and two names with connections to head coach Mike McCarthy have surfaced: Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin. "Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin are the two guys with connections to Mike (McCarthy) that are on rosters now and know his offense," Pelissero wrote. "But I haven't heard of anything on either front. I do know the Steelers have been calling around on veteran wide receivers since the injuries last week and I'd imagine that continues with two WR on IR."
Both Tolbert and Turpin enjoyed their most productive seasons under McCarthy during his final year as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. Tolbert recorded 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns over 17 games, while Turpin posted 31 catches for 420 yards and two scores. Their familiarity with McCarthy's system makes them logical short-term options, but neither is a proven difference-maker.
Key Analysis
Tolbert, now in his fifth NFL season, has never surpassed 300 receiving yards outside of his 2024 campaign, suggesting a limited ceiling as a depth piece. Turpin was slightly more productive in 2025 with just under 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but his output mirrors Tolbert's. While both would add depth to an injury-riddled unit, they do not address the Steelers' need for a true No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. Unless Pittsburgh is willing to part with a high draft pick, the team is likely to pursue low-cost veterans like Tolbert, Turpin, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, or practice squad players such as KJ Osborn and Xavier Gipson. The Steelers are clearly searching for help, but the quality of that help remains uncertain.