Steelers news: Ben Roethlisberger makes eye-opening take on DK Metcalf's issues

The Pittsburgh Steelers are experiencing early offensive growing pains , and wide receiver DK Metcalf finds himself at the center of the frustration. Brought in as a marquee weapon for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers , Metcalf has struggled to produce through the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL regular season.

Through two games, the star wideout has caught just eight passes on 19 targets for 67 yards and zero touchdowns. His hands became a major talking point during Pittsburgh's painful 20-3 Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots , where costly drops stalled an already sluggish offense. After managing a narrow 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, the Steelers need their top target to elevate the passing attack.

While critics suggest extra practice reps , former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a very different view on Metcalf's early-season slump. Speaking on his "Footbahlin" podcast, the franchise legend offered an eye-opening assessment of the receiver's current state.

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"I don't think it's a lack of confidence; I think receivers are one of the most confident people in the world," Roethlisberger said. "I think people will say something like, does he need to catch more passes… No, it's not about reps. He's going to catch 98 to 99 of those 100 each time. Like it is what it is, he's got hands, he can catch."

Instead of physical mechanical issues, Big Ben believes Metcalf is simply overthinking and pressing too hard to break out of his slump. "Right now I think he's probably in his own head a little bit," Roethlisberger explained. "When you start to struggle, the issue is you start pressing too much, you start trying too hard… Just be you, and I'm hoping, I think he's a pro, Aaron's probably like hey listen, dude relax."

Roethlisberger's advice is clear: Metcalf must trust his proven track record and let the game come to him naturally.