With wide receiver Diontae Johnson hobbled by a hamstring, could the Pittsburgh Steelers turn to their past for a replacement?
However unlikely it may seem, embattled receiver Antonio Brown floated the idea of a potential return.
Brown, who played for the Steelers from 2010-18, took to social media Tuesday to seemingly express interest in a comeback.
Heard the @steelers need a WR………..
— AB (@AB84) September 12, 2023
He followed that with posts of “Hear Me Out……..” and “WWABD” later in the day.
Then he ended with a photoshopped image of himself on the field next to Steelers second-year receiver George Pickens.
Feed one Fo…………. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/8hR8JJweqo
— AB (@AB84) September 13, 2023
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Johnson is unlikely to play against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, while ESPN reported that Johnson might miss “a few weeks.” In terms of a replacement, Tomlin said he felt “capable about our in-house people.”
In June 2022, during an appearance on “The Pivot Podcast,” Tomlin dismissed the idea of bringing back Brown.
“Y’all know that ain’t happening,” Tomlin said, according to Sports Illustrated’s recount of the podcast. “In terms of putting a helmet on and running out of the tunnel and playing ball and stuff like that, man. You know he’s moved on and we’ve moved on. We can sit around and chop that up like it’s a realistic conversation, but we know that’s not realistic.”
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Brown last played in the NFL in a Week 17 game against the New York Jets on Jan. 2, 2022.
His exit proved notable as he left the game in the middle of the third quarter, removing his pads on the sideline and giving equipment to fans.
