With the Pittsburgh Steelers potentially set to test their wide receiver depth again in Week 3, a former Steelers wideout reached free agency at the end of this week.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Chicago Bears parted ways with veteran receiver Scotty Miller. The eighth-year wideout was previously on the Bears practice squad.
Miller spent two years with the Steelers, starting one game in 2024. He appeared in 13 contests during both 2024 and 2025, hauling in passes from Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
In 26 games with Pittsburgh, he posted 14 catches for 131 yards. Miller also returned two kickoffs for 34 total yards.
The veteran served as an emergency backup for a few specialty roles too, including holder on the field goal team. Miller served as the team’s holder in his Steelers debut — Week 1 of the 2024 campaign — after punter Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending injury during the game.
Bears Release Ex-Steelers WR Scotty Miller
On one hand, Miller was an ideal practice squad player for the Bears early this season because he could fill a lot of different jobs. That versatility likely landed him an opportunity with Chicago after the Steelers didn’t retain him this offseason.
The Bears signed Miller during free agency in May. The team released him before the NFL roster deadline in August but brought him back on the practice squad.
However, Miller doesn’t have much upside any more as a pass-catcher. So from a developmental perspective, he’s going to be a tough keep on the practice squad for a lot of organizations.
Early in his career, Miller showcased similarities to Wes Welker or Julian Edelman. It was easy to make those comparisons when Tom Brady was his quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Miller hauled in 33 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns during Tampa Bay’s 2020 Super Bowl season.
Miller, though, hasn’t recorded more than 200 yards in any of his other NFL campaigns.
In 2023, he played for the Atlanta Falcons. Miller registered 11 catches for 161 yards and two scores in 17 games with Atlanta. The Steelers were the third team of his NFL career.
Over 93 games overall, Miller has 99 catches, 1,216 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the NFL.
Will Michael Pittman Jr. Play in Week 3?
Miller is looking for a new team as the Steelers continue to deal with a significant injury at receiver.
Michael Pittman Jr. missed Week 2 because of a foot injury. The loss was significant. Pittman led the team in receiving yards during the season opener, and fellow starting wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has struggled to begin the campaign.
Without Pittman, rookie Germie Bernard showed flashes during Week 2. Bernard led the Steelers with 35 receiving yards against the New England Patriots.
But Bernard also tipped a pass into the air for an interception on a throw that should have been an easy catch.
If Pittman can’t play in Week 3 versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Bernard and Roman Wilson will be the team’s next-best options after Metcalf. The Steelers offense also needs to involved its top two tight ends, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, more in the passing game.
Although Miller is now available for the Steelers, he’s not a short-term answer to replacing Pittman. Miller only averaged 6.9 yards per reception on nine catches from Rodgers last season.
While speaking to reporters this week, Pittman suggested he is day-to-day. The foot injury limited the receiver at practice Wednesday and Thursday. That’s progress, though, as Pittman didn’t practice at all last Thursday.
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