PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Monday DK Metcalf had players coming up to him and welcoming him back. Metcalf said there were too many people to mention that reached out to him multiple times during his two-game NFL suspension.
Now Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and his offense gets the return of its top receiver against Houston Monday night.
“Certainly awesome to have DK back, but we're not gonna exhale and think that DK automatically with his presence is gonna be a difference or the difference,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “Football is the ultimate team game. It's gonna require a great effort from all parties involved, but certainly excited about doing it with them.”
In the first two games of December, Metcalf had 10 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown. He had two of his three best yards per target games as a Steeler. The offense scored 55 points. Even with him dealing with the situation during the Detroit game he was part of an offense that dropped 29 points.
Now Tomlin gets Metcalf back while seeing what others could do without him.
He pointed out Adam Thielen, a 12-year veteran but new to the Steelers, made ‘some significant plays for us’. Scotty Miller is always ready to make plays and Tomlin called him a ‘credible playmaker when called upon’.
“Our running backs have been a major component of our passing game in recent weeks,” Tomlin said. “Maybe not down the field, but the ability to turn short into longer has bridged the gap for us in a lot of ways. I think we lead the league in yards after catch as a collective for the season.”
Tomlin admitted Metcalf’s absence impacted the team in Cleveland, not scoring a touchdown and the longest pass play to a receiver was 15 yards. Tomlin felt like the team adapted and improved against Baltimore.
“It was reasonable to expect us all to be better,” Tomlin said. “The players themselves, us as strategists, and I think we displayed that. And so, hopefully returning him to the fold, we get the benefits of all the things that I've just discussed.”
Metcalf is in a great place according to Tomlin, they are happy to have him back. Tomlin loves to use the phrase the strength of the pack is the pack, now they get a lead dog back.
“Our adaptability, the growth of individuals, the growth continuity in new individuals, and you couple that with his presence, hopefully we're all continually, collectively better,” Tomlin said.
“I know it's gonna be required.”