CLEVELAND — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson left Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a quad injury. He’s standing on the sideline with his helmet, but is questionable to return to action.
Jefferson was injured on a four-yard reception which wound up two yards shy of a first down. He was upended on a tackle by the Browns’ Ronnie Hickman.
A first-year Steeler, Jefferson entered the NFL as the Los Angeles Rams’ 2020 second-round pick. Including the grab that he was shaken up on, he has 15 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown this season.
Jefferson’s best season as a pro thus far came in 2021 when he piled up 802 yards and six scores on 50 receptions. That same year, the Rams won Super Bowl LVI. Jefferson had four catches for 23 yards in that game.
Van Jefferson, now 28, split last season between Los Angeles and Atlanta after being traded to the latter in October. He had a dozen receptions for 101 yards in 12 games with the Falcons.
At receiver, the Steelers still have George Pickens, Mike Williams, Calvin Austin III, Ben Skowronek, and Scotty Miller as veteran quarterback Russell Wilson looks to get it done in weather that isn’t the most ideal to pass the ball in.
Wilson’s No. 1 option, Pickens ranks fourth in the league in receiving. He entered the Thursday night clash with 728 yards and two touchdowns on 48 receptions.
Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase (1,056 yards), Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson (912), and CeeDee Lamb (774) are the wideouts in front of Pickens on that list, showing Pickens is making a case to be mentioned among the brightest at his position in the sport.