Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf gave a blunt answer on Friday when asked if it’s better to be counted out by the media than overhyped.
“That’s just for the outside people, the outside noise. I don’t really pay attention to the media. Opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one,” Metcalf told reporters in Ireland.
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Over the first three weeks of the season, Metcalf is averaging just 45 receiving yards per game, a 30% decrease from his career to date. He has 10 receptions for 135 yards (13.5 average) and two touchdowns.
Most of Metcalf’s yardage has come after the catch. He said he watched a lot of Cooper Kupp to work on his YAC game.
Against the New York Jets in Week 1, Metcalf had a 31-yard catch and run that was virtually all created on his own accord. On that play, he hit 21.25 MPH, the sixth-fastest time of any ball carrier this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
Despite missing two games last season due to injury, Metcalf still led all NFL receivers in receptions of 20+ air yards, hauling in half of his 32 targets. In 2025, he has as many targets behind the line of scrimmage (2) as he does deeper down the field, and his 7.9 ADOT is virtually half of where his career mark lies (13.3).
The Steelers gave Metcalf a five-year, $150 million deal this offseason after they acquired him via a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. He hasn’t been terrible, but he has not lived up to the contract so far. And it’s not all on him, it’s a combination of things — scheme, offensive line play, WR talent surrounding him.
Perhaps this will be the week that the Steelers unleash Metcalf. He’s all business in Ireland, too.
“I’m not here to explore. I’m here for the football game,” Metcalf said. “It’ll be interesting to see it on the flight out and when we go in the bus to the game, but I’m here to play a football game.”
