Steven Sims, others jockey to replace Chase Claypool for 2022 Steelers

As the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday went through the final practice before a four-day break, there was a void on offense.

A void that measures about 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds worth.

For the first day, at least, the void was filled by someone who measures 6 inches shorter and 62 pounds lighter.

Steven Sims was frequently the receiver who played in the slot, Diontae Johnson confirmed, for the Steelers during practice the day after they traded Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft choice.

Eleven days remained before the Steelers take the field again, so that is subject to change. But it’s clear the Steelers offense will look different now that their biggest wide receiver is no longer part of it.

“Whoever steps up in the slot, they can still work the middle,” Johnson said. “And me and (George Pickens) are still going to make plays down the field, or find ways to get us the ball in different positions. Whoever is in the slot, just keep the train rolling.”

For the first practice post-Claypool, that was Sims, the 5-10, 176-pound former undrafted player who spent last season on the Steelers’ practice squad (he got into one game) and the first four games of this season on the inactives list until he took over as the Steelers’ kick/punt return specialist and part-time receiver.

Sims has played 20 offensive snaps over the three games he’s played this season, making two catches for minus-1 yard as well as three carries for 16 yards.

“Real good player, smart, can run every route, catch the ball, great hands, get yards after the catch,” Johnson said of Sims, who declined to talk with media after practice. “He’s been (in the NFL) four years, so he knows the game of football, so I am looking forward to seeing what he can do out there.

“He looked comfortable out there (Wednesday), and he’s going to be ready to play.”

“I’ve always been an underdog kind of story,” Steven Sims said. “This is nothing new to me.”https://t.co/OVoNe8AYBV

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) October 29, 2022

Sims had 61 catches for 575 yards and five touchdowns over the 2019-20 seasons with the Washington Football Team. But his lack of production so far this season could be troubling for the Steelers, especially when it comes to replacing a player in Claypool who tied for the eighth-most third-down catches that gained a first down (nine) in the NFL this season.

There are five wide receivers on the active roster; only Johnson (43 catches) and Pickens (26) have more than two receptions in 2022. Sims’ two receptions rank third among WRs on the team. Miles Boykin has one, and Gunner Olszewski has not caught a pass.

“We have guys who have logged some game time and appear poised to have an increased role,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Guys with NFL experience that we are comfortable with.”

Boykin and Olszewski are four-year veterans who have appeared in 44 and 48 NFL games, respectively. Cody White appeared in 15 games for the Steelers last season. Though he has been on the practice squad all season, he’s the player most likely to ascend to the active roster to take Claypool’s place on offense.

“When you talk about a player like Chase, you can’t replace him with one player,” Boykin said. “It’s by committee. I think the whole room is going to do what we can to replace that production and go out there and do our thing. We’ve felt confident in the receiving room since Day 1, and we all feel like we can do different things. It’s going to take all of us to fill that hole.”

It might take even more than merely that WR’s room. Tomlin referenced second-year tight end Pat Freiermuth in discussing what he sees as depth among Steelers pass-catchers. Rookie tight end Connor Heyward, too, expressed an interest.

“I feel like my skill set fills a lot of things,” Heyward said.

Though the Steelers wouldn’t admit it publicly, the Claypool trade is more about 2023 and beyond. Without repute, it makes the roster weaker for the nine games remaining in 2022. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t players capable of filling his void.

“We got some games left to play, and we feel really comfortable with the depth that we have at Chase’s position,” Tomlin said. “More specifically, we’re really comfortable with our playmaking ability inside.”

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