George Pickens may not be playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a while. 

And if that’s the case, the team is going to need help from everyone else in the WR corps. 

That includes the man they made a trade for just weeks ago, WR Mike Williams:

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Mike Tomlin Expecting Mike Williams to Step Up

“No Question. I felt like he did last week,” said Tomlin when asked if Williams is a guy who could step up in the absence of George Pickens. “As I mentioned last week in this setting, I view it only as a matter of time before his presence gets felt in a more consistent way in stadium. Practice has been like that for a number of weeks, and usually when you see people making plays in practices, it’s a precursor to them making plays in stadium. And so George, available or not, I expect the overall trajectory of his [Mike Williams] performance and inclusion in performance to be on the incline.

The Steelers are going to need more catches like this from Mike Williams if George Pickens is inactive again on Sunday against the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/WTAldfhCuv

— Billy Hartford (@CamHeywardFan) December 10, 2024

Since being traded from the New York Jets, Williams only has four catches, but he’s averaging over 17 yards a reception, which is precisely what the Steelers acquired him to do. 

The vertical element of the offense will be greatly diminished until Pickens is ready to return. Calvin Austin III has multiple big plays, but those have largely been on in-breaking routes or up the seam. 

Williams along with Van Jefferson will be tasked with winning on the perimeter and it won’t be easy against a vaunted Philadelphia Eagles defense, even if Mike Tomlin believes whole-heartedly in Williams:

"Keep watching. Very much in development. Again, as I've mentioned, I've seen some quality playmaking in practice,” added Tomlin on Williams later in his presser. I thought last weekend was a significant step in seeing some more and so let's hope that continues."

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