Mike McCarthy reveals what’s really going on with Steelers WR DK Metcalf after back-to-back weeks of poor performances
The numbers paint a damning picture for a receiver Pittsburgh is paying $33 million per year.
DK Metcalf turned in another atrocious performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 against the New England Patriots, following what was already a bad Week 1. The drops are piling up, the production is nonexistent, and Steelers coach Mike McCarthy helped explain why after the game.
McCarthy said it plainly in his postgame presser via the Steelers YouTube channel: “When confidence isn’t right, execution suffers.”
That is exactly what is wrong with DK Metcalf. Two bad drops last week, two bad drops this week. It is abundantly clear that something is going on upstairs for the Steelers’ big-money wide receiver, whether it’s the yips or a deeper confidence issue. You can look at the way Metcalf positions his hands on some of the catches, or attempted catches, that he’s trying to make. There is a problem, and it has to be sorted out.
The numbers tell an even worse story
The raw statistics are somehow uglier than the eye test. As Austin Bechtold highlighted on X (Twitter):
DK Metcalf 2026 stats and facts
2 games played
- 19 targets
- 8 catches
- 67 yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 4 drops
- $33 millon APY
That bottom line is the one that really matters here. The Steelers didn’t just acquire Metcalf in a trade. They sent the Seattle Seahawks a second-round draft pick that turned out to be Nick Emmanwori, who helped Seattle win the Super Bowl. But that’s neither here nor there. Pittsburgh then extended Metcalf to a contract that pays him $33 million per year, which at the time was top-4 money at the wide receiver position.
Does this look like a top-4 performer at any position? Absolutely, positively not.
The context makes it even worse
What makes it worse is that this 2-game stretch comes on the heels of Metcalf’s worst statistical season in the NFL. This is the same player who was suspended two games in 2025 because he tried to fight a fan, who almost cost the Steelers a shot in the playoffs because Pittsburgh lost to the Cleveland Browns and needed a last-second missed field goal from the Baltimore Ravens just to get in.
And this is the 2-week performance Metcalf has followed that up with.
Something has to change
There is a lot of football left to be played. I understand that Metcalf can flip a switch and look like a top-10 wide receiver at any time. But right now, this trade looks horrible for general manager Omar Khan and for the Steelers because Metcalf simply has not produced.
Whether it’s a confidence issue like McCarthy said or something else entirely, something is very wrong in Pittsburgh. Metcalf, McCarthy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the rest of the organization have to figure it out.
