The Pittsburgh Steelers could not have asked for a better Week 5 bye. Every other team in the AFC North lost, which led to the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns all being under .500 with Week 6 around the corner. There is a lot of season left, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin and co. are in a good position, despite having some concerning injuries on both sides of the ball. Both Calvin Austin III and Jalen Ramsey are expected to miss some time with respective ailments, and players are going to need to step up while the two key contributors are sidelined.

There doesn’t seem to be too much panic within the Steelers’ locker room. Part of that may be due to the state of the division outside of the Steel City, but the team as a whole is also confident in those currently on the roster. Austin’s potential absence could turn into more of a challenge than that of Ramsey’s, which is why it’d be fair to wonder if General Manager Omar Khan is finally going to trade for another pass-catcher.

Pittsburgh is no stranger to wide receiver trade rumors. Sometimes big moves have come to fruition, like the acquisition of DK Metcalf, but other times, they haven’t — similarly to the failure to trade for Brandon Aiyuk in 2024. When asked on the Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show whether or not the poor play in the AFC North would cause the Steelers to go all in and trade for a wideout, veteran reporter Gerry Dulac wouldn’t doubt Khan.

The Khan era in the Steel City has been unpredictable since he was promoted in May of 2022. Dulac is right to say that anything could happen at any moment, and if Austin’s injury is more severe than some originally believed, a big move could be necessary. Even if Austin comes back in a timely manner, no one would blame Pittsburgh’s front office for acquiring someone who could make a difference in the backend of the campaign.

Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III hauls in a catch as the team practices on the field at St. Vincent College during 2023 training camp in Pittsburgh, PA.

Austin has played a respectable role in the Steelers’ offense in 2025, but hasn’t really been one of the best second options in the NFL. It wouldn’t hurt Pittsburgh to acquire another dynamic option so that Aaron Rodgers would have as many weapons at his disposal as possible. The next week or so of football could determine which organizations are buyers and which are sellers, and that’s when Khan could prepare to make a few phone calls.

Khan has often been quoted saying that he is always looking for ways to make the team better. The tight ends haven’t been used nearly as much in the passing game as fans and the media alike expected, so another wide receiver could be just what the offensive unit needs to help the franchise rise to being a contender. With a plethora of draft capital in Khan’s pocket for 2026, anything is possible.

Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)Steelers General Manager Omar Khan hangs out with the fans and signs some autographs in Latrobe, PA during 2023 training camp.

Steelers Can’t Afford To Waste A Golden Opportunity

The combination of bad play and unlucky breaks throughout the AFC North has been incredibly fascinating to watch in 2025. It seems as if Pittsburgh is the only organization still above water. While Tomlin and co. have dealt with injuries in their own right, a 3-1 record after four contests is without question the best position to be out of the bunch. Now, fans will wait to see if the organization is all in to win the division and host a home playoff game for the first time since the 2020 season.

Do you think that the Steelers need to trade for a wide receiver? Let us know in the comments below!