DK Metcalf came to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the kind of expectations that follow a major trade, especially with Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. After watching the two work together during training camp, former Steelers quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger thought the team had found a combination that would produce big results.
The regular season, however, has not quite followed that script. This week, Roethlisberger explained what he expected from Metcalf and why the receiver's lack of production has surprised him.
On a midseason review episode of "Footbahlin' with Ben Roethlisberger," the Steelers legend and co-host Spencer Te'o handed out team awards.
Roethlisberger selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu as a surprise, but he also included DK Metcalf because the receiver has not produced what he expected.
Roethlisberger based his expectations on what he saw during training camp, when Metcalf and Rodgers appeared to have a strong connection. He thought that form would carry into the regular season and lead to a much bigger start.
"I did put DK here only in the sense that I expected him to be having a really big year. I went to that training camp practice. I watched him, him and Aaron, and I thought it was going to be just another year together," Roethlisberger said.
He then stressed that Metcalf has not reached the level he anticipated, although he left room for a second-half turnaround.
"I just expected him to be going nuts by now, and he hasn't. Could it change in the second half and all of a sudden be something special? Sure. But that would be my other kind of reason why I would say a big surprise is that I just expected 1,000 yards by now or something crazy," he added.
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Metcalf arrived in Pittsburgh through a blockbuster trade from Seattle in March 2025. The Steelers then gave him a four-year, $132 million extension worth $33 million a year. The deal included $60 million fully guaranteed at signing, in a move that only served to elevate expectations for the receiver.
His first season produced 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games. He flashed his big-play ability with an 80-yard touchdown against Minnesota and a 148-yard outing against Baltimore. However, he finished short of the 1,000-yard mark.
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The 2026 season has brought further concerns as he ranks #61 in PFN's NFL WR Impact Metric . Through eight games, Metcalf has 33 receptions for 378 yards and one touchdown. He managed 11 catches for 93 yards against Tampa Bay in Week 6, but his recent outings have been far quieter.
Against Cleveland in Week 8, Metcalf caught just one pass for four yards on six targets in a 27-6 win. He has also recorded six drops on 64 targets, adding to concerns about his connection with Rodgers.
With 92 catches, 1,228 yards and seven touchdowns across 23 regular-season appearances as a Steeler, Metcalf has produced some results. But Roethlisberger's comments show why the expectations attached to his contract remain a central part of the discussion.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
