Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson is signing back with the Washington Commanders via the practice squad, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The six-year vet, released by Washington Aug. 30, has 166 career receptions and 13 touchdowns.
Jefferson signed with the Commanders in March.
Jefferson, 29, played one season with the Steelers. He was the team's No. 2 outside receiver throughout the 2024 campaign.
He played in all 17 games for the Steelers in 2024, and made 12 starts. However, despite playing 721 snaps and running a route on 414 snaps, Jefferson was targeted just 40 times and made 24 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns.
Though Jefferson was the second wide receiver on the depth chart and the No. 2 outside receiver, Jefferson had fewer receiving yards than tight end Pat Freiermuth , slot receiver Calvin Austin III and running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren .
That, paired with Pittsburgh trading for DK Metcalf , is likely why the team felt it was best to part ways following the 2024 season, paving the way for Jefferson to join the Tennessee Titans .
Jefferson wasn't able to prove his doubters wrong in Tennessee, though. In 16 games, he recorded just 29 catches for 350 yards and one touchdown.
Now, Jefferson will be joining the fifth team in his NFL career with the hopes of finally returning to the player he was in 2021, when he had a career-high 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns.
Before his time in Pittsburgh, Jefferson spent three and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Rams , winning a Super Bowl after the 2021 season. He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons mid-season in 2023, where he first connected with former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the head coach in Atlanta.
A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson has recorded 166 catches for 2,226 yards and 13 touchdowns in his professional career.
Aaron Becker contributed.
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