Steelers add WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to practice squad, explore trade options before deadline

The Pittsburgh Steelers made one addition to the wide receivers room Tuesday, but it did not involve beating the 4 p.m. trading deadline.

A week after working out Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the Steelers signed the veteran pass catcher to the practice squad. He replaces second-year cornerback Beanie Bishop, who was released Monday.

At his weekly press conference, coach Mike Tomlin said the team was exploring trade possibilities with the afternoon deadline approaching.

“We’ll see what happens,” Tomlin said. “I like shopping.”

Valdes-Scantling has the support of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his former teammate with the Green Bay Packers. Valdes-Scantling spent his first four seasons in Green Bay when Rodgers was the quarterback, and he caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2020, he led the NFL when he averaged 20.9 yards per catch. He also had six touchdowns on 33 receptions that season.

“I love MVS,” Rodgers said last week, a few days after Valdes-Scantling worked out at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I’ve always enjoyed playing with him. He’s one of my favorite teammates of all time. He is a really special guy, and I think MVS can still really play.”

Since leaving Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling has played for Kansas City, Buffalo, New Orleans and San Francisco. In five games this season with the 49ers, Valdes-Scantling had four receptions for 40 yards and no touchdowns. He signed with San Francisco’s practice squad after spending training camp with the Seattle Seahawks. He was elevated before the season opener.

The 49ers placed Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve with a calf injury Oct. 17 and released him the next day. Valdes-Scantling reportedly considered joining the Steelers after being released by the Seahawks but elected to stay on the West Coast and join the 49ers instead.

In his eight-year NFL career, Valdes-Scantling has caught 209 passes for 3606 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Tomlin downplayed the signing because it was not an addition to the 53-man roster like last week when the Steelers acquired safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots. Tomlin also said Rodgers had no input on the Steelers’ adding Valdes-Scantling.

“We’ll get him in the fold, get him working, check his overall level of conditioning and how he learns,” Tomlin said. “It is not a Dugger discussion. He’s just a practice squad guy.”

By bringing in Valdes-Scantling, the Steelers added depth to a group that includes starters DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin, plus backups Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek and Ke’Shawn Williams.

Miller missed the Steelers’ 27-20 victory against Indianapolis with a broken finger. He could return Sunday when the Steelers face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in a prime-time kickoff.

“We’ll see how he’s able to function as some point this week,” Tomlin said.

Inside linebacker Cole Holcomb and safety Chuck Clark missed the game with illness, but they could return to practice this week. Isaac Seumalo left in the second half for the second game in a row with pectoral injury. Tomlin is optimistic that Seumalo can suit up again Sunday against the Chargers.

Safety Jabrill Peppers is dealing with a quadriceps injury that prevented him from playing against Indianapolis.

The Chargers moved to 6-3 after a 27-20 win over the Titans on Sunday. They are in second place in the AFC West. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 57 yards and a score. He spread the ball around to seven pass-catchers, led by Oronde Gadsden II with five catches for 68 yards. Defensively, the Chargers held the Titans to just 206 total yards.

The Steelers (5-3) maintain a two-game lead atop the AFC North.