In one game, DK Metcalf nearly matched his receiving output from the first three weeks of his Pittsburgh Steelers career. The hulking receiver's numbers during his team's 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings looked more like how they're supposed to.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin discussed Metcalf's performance, which included five grabs for 126 yards and an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
"I think getting him the ball is always our agenda," Tomlin said . "Sometimes, it's controlled by other things. In previous weeks, we weren't getting off the way we would like on third downs, so it minimizes offensive possessions. We weren't winning possession downs. These are complex discussions. They don't happen in a vacuum.
"We didn't go get DK not to get him the ball. And so today was a reflection of our intentions, but that's been our intention every week."
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf at minicamp on June 12, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Metcalf entered the matchup having caught 10 balls for 135 yards and two touchdowns, both red zone floaters from Aaron Rodgers .
"Coverage dictated that," Rodgers said of Metcalf getting involved early. "We moved him around pretty good, had some good motions to get him off some doubles and it was just coverage. He had single (coverage) on the back shoulder fade. He had Cover 2, but we had nice play action and that's what DK does best. He can really run and it was nice to get him going early."
Rodgers added that he was able to connect more often with Metcalf because of the threat Kenneth Gainwell provided on the ground. Usually the Steelers' backup tailback, Gainwell stepped up in place of the injured Jaylen Warren to rush for 99 yards and two scores.
"There's been so much talk about, 'How can we get DK more involved? How can we push the ball down the field more?'" Rodgers said. "And I said last week, 'You've gotta run the football.' And I think today we ran the ball pretty effectively."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Is DK Metcalf's Breakout Steelers Performance a Sign of Things to Come?
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