While the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t add a wide receiver at the NFL trade deadline, quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains confident in the team’s wideout depth chart. That confidence extends beyond the active roster.
Rodgers has previously spoken highly of Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson. Both receivers had opportunities to play in October and early November with the Steelers dealing with significant injuries at wideout.
On Wednesday, Rodgers told reporters it might be time for Max Hurleman to get his chance.
“We’re obviously raised up a couple of our P-squad guys who are talented,” said Rodgers. “Still would love to get some opportunities for Max [Hurleman] at some point whenever he comes off [injured reserve].
“We have Marquez [Valdes-Scantling], who hasn’t been brought up yet, so we have a lot of options.”
Rodgers has previously called for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to get a practice squad elevation. Wednesday was the first time he addressed Hurleman in that context.
Like Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson, Hurleman is also working back from an injury. Hurleman is on the team’s practice squad injured reserve.
But as is the case with Pittman and Wilson, Rodgers appears to see Hurleman potentially getting an opportunity during the stretch run.
Hurleman is in his second NFL season with the Steelers. The receiver/running back came to the team as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hurleman has yet to make his NFL regular season debut. The Steelers will face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in Week 10.
Aaron Rodgers Suggests Practice Squad WR Max Hurleman Could Get Opportunity
Rodgers included Hurleman in his response about the receivers the Steelers potentially have coming back from injury soon.
Most pundits and fans have their attention on returns from Pittman and Wilson. Pittman is eligible to come back Sunday against the Bengals. Wilson might make his return the following week versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
The veteran quarterback said he hopes Pittman and Wilson are both back “sooner rather than later.” Even so, perhaps Hurleman will get a chance too. No one has hyped the Steelers practice squad receivers more this season than Rodgers.
One would expect the signal-caller would be itching to get Valdes-Scantling elevated for a game soon. Rodgers has played parts of five seasons with the veteran receiver who returned to the Steelers in October.
But Rodgers also mentioning Hurleman is quite notable given that the playmaker has never played.
Last season, Hurleman made the Steelers practice squad but spent most of the campaign on Pittsburgh’s practice squad IR. This year, he spent the entire offseason with the team.
The playmaker has split his NFL opportunities between running back and wide receiver. The Steelers officially have Hurleman listed as a wide receiver on their 2026 roster (practice squad/injured list).
In the 2025 preseason, Hurleman caught a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He scored four touchdowns — three receiving and one rushing — during his college career at Colgate and Notre Dame.
Hurleman has been on the practice squad injured list since September 19.
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