Just when everything appeared set and ready to go for the Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced an unexpected roster cut.
“We have released WR Scotty Miller from the Active Roster,” the Steelers relayed on X.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo followed up on this news, noting that “[Miller has] been in and out of the lineup since the Steelers acquired Mike Williams and Ben Skowronek got healthy.”
Throughout the year, Miller has often drawn the praise of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson, but he never really factored into the regular season offense all that much. He closed out his 13 regular season appearances with 5 catches for 69 receiving yards and 2 first downs. Miller was targeted 9 times.
One other factor going against Miller was his special teams impact. On the year, the journeyman only logged 10 special teams snaps for the Steelers, compared to 210 offensive snaps.
With the Pittsburgh wide receiver depth increasing as the 2024 campaign went on — as DeFabo alluded — Miller must have become the odd man out as the Steelers shuffle things around. He’s certainly a candidate to return on the practice squad.
Steelers Could Activate Injured OT Calvin Anderson for Ravens Clash
Although it has not been confirmed why the Steelers needed to free up a spot on the 53-man roster, ESPN beat reporter Brooke Pryor had a theory.
“[The] Steelers have released WR Scotty Miller,” she informed. Adding: “Presumably makes room to activate [offensive tackle] Calvin Anderson from IR.”
Anderson has appeared in four games since signing with the Steelers, but he hasn’t been asked to take the field for too many snaps. According to Pro Football Reference, he’s only logged 11 on offense and 1 on special teams.
So, let’s say Pryor is correct and Anderson is activated ahead of Saturday’s playoff outing, he’ll likely serve as nothing more than injury insurance. Still, in the postseason, it’s good to be prepared for anything and everything.
Steelers Utilize 5-Man Rotation at WR in Week 18
Miller didn’t get any action in Week 18. In hindsight, this drop-off in snaps foreshadowed his release, but Smith and Pittsburgh have rotated a small number of wide receivers all year long.
At the beginning of the season — when Williams was in New York and guys like Roman Wilson and Skowronek were banged up — Miller was part of that smaller rotation. Now he’s not, but it’s not because he’s a bad player.
It seems that Smith prefers to stick to a number like four or five wide receivers at a time. That’s what he’s done throughout the year and that’s what he did in Week 18.
According to Pro Football Focus, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III filled in behind George Pickens in the snap share. Pickens was out there for 56 offensive snaps, while Jefferson registered 41 and Austin played 40.
After that, Williams got 14 looks on offense and Skowronek received 5.
Expect the playoff gameplan to resemble something like this. Now that it’s officially do-or-die time, Pickens should be out there as much as possible, and the Steelers have continued on with Jefferson operating as the WR2 all season long.
Then there’s Austin, who has provided a much-needed spark out of the slot most games.
Head coach Mike Tomlin, Russell Wilson and the Steelers in general have stood behind this WR corps at every turn in 2024. Now we finally find out if that was a wise decision.
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Steelers Abruptly Release Veteran WR Just Before Start of NFL Playoffs