What happened: Pittsburgh has been contacting clubs regarding veteran wideouts ahead of the trade deadline as injuries mount across the receiving corps. With Ben Skowronek sidelined by a leg injury alongside Roman Wilson on injured reserve, the Steelers elevated Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson from the practice squad for their ongoing matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Why it matters: Depleted depth at wide receiver leaves the Steelers relying heavily on practice-squad elevations to sustain their passing attack over the coming weeks. Pittsburgh has frequently used the trade market to reshape the position in recent years, previously executing deals involving George Pickens and DK Metcalf.

What to watch: Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin have surfaced as potential veteran targets to monitor as Pittsburgh evaluates trade options before the deadline.