Former Steelers WR finds new home in AFC West after major injury update

Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is officially in the books, with one former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver finding a new home in the AFC West, and he could play a big role following an injury to a team's star wide receiver.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Los Angeles Chargers have signed former Steelers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad. Following injury news regarding Ladd McConkey 's rib, the move actually makes a lot of sense for both Valdes-Scantling and the Chargers.

Valdes-Scantling, who joined Pittsburgh in 2025 in order to play with his former Green Bay Packers teammate turned Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers , showed fans that he still had game-changing speed at 31 years old last season.

Playing for the Green Bay Packers (2018-2021), Kansas City Chiefs (2022-2023), Buffalo Bills (2024), New Orleans Saints (2024), Seattle Seahawks (2025), San Francisco 49ers (2025), Steelers (2025), and Dallas Cowboys (2026), Valdes-Scantling will now join his ninth NFL team with the Chargers.

It remains to be seen if Los Angeles will call up the veteran wide receiver from their practice squad in time for the team's Week 2 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders , but we at Steelers Wire wish Valdes-Scantling the best of luck in this new opportunity.

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