The New York Giants have released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton, a surprising move less than a week before their season opener. Slayton, the team's longest-tenured player, was set to make $13 million this season. Despite coming off his least productive year, Slayton has a proven track record and could be a valuable complementary player for teams in need of receiver depth, with the Colts and Jets mentioned as potential landing spots
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard got a series with the first-team offense on Friday at training camp, and he was flexed into the backfield and then back out into the slot on one rep, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. It suggests that the 22-year-old former second-rounder from the University of Alabama could be moved around as somewhat of a gadget player in his first year in the NFL in head coach Mike McCarthy's offense in 2026. Bernard will primarily be battling veteran Roman Wilson for the WR3 role in Pittsburgh in his first year in the league, but Wilson could have the advantage due to his experience and strong chemistry with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He never put up elite receiving numbers in college, which could make him a bit of a boom-or-bust prospect for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues. Bernard has sneaky explosiveness. Pittsburgh's offense should be a bit more fantasy-friendly under McCarthy, but Bernard will most likely struggle for regular snaps in his first year in the NFL as long as all of DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Wilson stay healthy
Steelers WR Roman Wilson is reportedly being heavily targeted by QB Aaron Rodgers in training camp, with coaches noting their connection is improving. While Wilson saw significant reps as WR3, the overall volume for the role in what could be Rodgers' final season may limit his fantasy appeal in standard leagues
Coaching may be the theme of the AFC North entering the 2026 season. The Baltimore Ravens , Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers all endured head coaching changes this offseason, while the Cincinnati Bengals opted for continuity with Zac Taylor. Offensively, the Steelers will have a new look as Mike McCarthy reunites with Aaron Rodgers for the quarterback’s swan song and wideout Michael Pittman Jr. looks to revamp a basic 2025 offensive attack. However, the Steelers might miss Mike Tomlin’s leadership after 19 seasons at the helm. The Ravens hired head coach Jesse Minter to improve Baltimore’s leaky pass defense and help get Baltimore and Lamar Jackson football’s ultimate prize. The Browns will look a lot different this year after trading franchise cornerstone and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the year Myles Garrett . New Browns head coach Todd Monken won’t have their defensive engine and takes over a puzzling Browns quarterback room: will Cleveland start Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders ? The only team in the division to not make a head-coaching change, the Bengals aggressively added to their defense this offseason in a way that has Joe Burrow feeling giddy about the team. Who will win the AFC North this season? USA TODAY Sports examines the division and provides an early prediction. The Ravens were my pick for most disappointing team in the NFL last season. A 1-5 start and injuries to Lamar Jackson derailed Baltimore’s season and ultimately cost John Harbaugh his job. If the Ravens want to live up to their Super Bowl expectations, they must improve on a pass defense that was tied for the worst in the AFC in 2025 and finished second to last in 2024. Trey Hendrickson ’s arrival should help. Jackson, though, is the face of the Ravens franchise and the best player in the NFL , according to his head coach. The Ravens need the two-time MVP to remain healthy and perform like the league’s top player. Joe Burrow is extremely optimistic about the squad the Bengals assembled , recently comparing the team to the 2019 national championship LSU roster. The Bengals ranked 31st in total defense in two of the past three seasons, leading them to make a concerted effort to improve the unit with the additions of Dexter Lawrence , Boye Mafe , Jonathan Allen and Bryan Cook . If Burrow can stay healthy and the Bengals defense improves, Cincinnati has a good chance to make its way back to the postseason after a three-year hiatus. The Browns have endured two consecutive losing seasons and are looking to get out of the AFC North basement, but they face an uphill battle after trading away Myles Garrett, the NFL’s single-season sack champion and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. New head coach Todd Monken is tasked with building Cleveland into a winner, and that starts with solving the Browns’ annual quarterback dilemma. Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are the front runners to win the starting quarterback job entering training camp . Year 22 will be Aaron Rodgers’ last (we think) , and while Rodgers doesn't play at his MVP level of old, he’s still a capable starting quarterback and helped the Steelers win the division in 2025. Rodgers and Mike McCarthy's established rapport and the trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr. should help their 25th-ranked offense. Some around Pittsburgh were ready for Mike Tomlin to step down after 19 straight non-losing seasons, and the Steel City will soon find out if the grass is greener on the other side. MORE: Why hiring ex-Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is a big win for NBC's NFL coverage The Ravens have a Super Bowl-caliber roster that’s routinely underachieved, but the vibes are good in Baltimore entering training camp. Jackson called the Ravens coaching changes a breath of fresh air . Free agent acquisitions Trey Hendrickson and Jaylinn Hawkins should help what’s been a vulnerable pass defense in each of the past two seasons. The Steelers and Bengals will likely be Baltimore’s two main competitor
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When and where: Week 14 at home Key additions: EDGE Arden Key, EDGE Michael Clemons, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither Key subtractions: WR Michael Pittman, LB Zaire Franklin, RT Braden Smith, EDGE Kwity Paye, S Nick Cross, LB Germaine Pratt, CB Kenny Moore Last season: The Colts completely collapsed, but extended the health insurance of Philip Rivers, […]
According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the Indianapolis Colts won’t realistically regain their 2025 first half form, citing starting quarterback Daniel Jones’ uncertain health and the loss of a number of key veterans as the realistic reasons for the continued regression : 2026 outlook: Repeat of early ’25 success seems unlikely It’s tough to expect anything close to a repeat performance from Jones in 2026, even before we consider the effect of the Achilles injury. It’s also worth noting that the Colts endured another offensive line departure ( Braden Smith ) and saw a key offensive weapon ( Michael Pittman Jr. ) leave the building to boot. Veteran defenders Nick Scott and Zaire Franklin both departed this offseason, leaving Day 2 rookies A.J. Haulcy and CJ Allen in line to fill their big shoes. The sheer number of departures, along with uncertain health for Jones, makes them a tough horse to back in 2026. — Ben Solak First and foremost, Solak makes a valid point on Jones, who Indianapolis re-signed to a 2-year contract extension worth up to a total of $100 million in earned incentives. Having suffered the season-ending torn Achilles late in Week 14 of last year, and for a quarterback who relies a lot on his mobility for playmaking, it will be realistically surprising if he’s able to make a fully recovery in such a short period of time. His ongoing Achilles rehab results are encouraging, but 2026 could be more of a redshirt year for him, and that may have been built into his recent contract in Indianapolis, considering it’s a two year pact for Indiana Jones. That being said, in my opinion, he’s overstating the loss of Colts veterans outside of longtime veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr., who did a lot of the little things that help an offense be productive and move the sticks. Change was arguably needed at both starting linebacker by trading Zaire Franklin, as well as at right tackle by allowing veteran starter Braden Smith to depart in free agency without any reported resistance by Indianapolis. The Colts needed to get younger and more cost-controllable at both spots. Franklin didn’t seem to be as good of a natural fit in Lou Anarumo’s defensive scheme and his play had fallen off recently, while Smith’s durability remained a major concern going forward at his higher price tag. I’m appreciative of both of their prior tenures in Indianapolis, but I think each veteran player’s production had fallen off a bit in more recent seasons for the cost. The Colts shouldn’t lose much at all from Franklin to rookie CJ Allen and Smith to 2nd-year tackle Jalen Travis from a playing and production standpoint, although the dip in experience and veteran leadership may hurt a bit. Nick Scott? But yes, Nick Cross is a nicer young safety in this league, who excelled at times against the run and in-the-box, but was a bit of a wild card in coverage. Rookie safety AJ Haulcy should be more of a versatile, natural fit for Anarumo’s scheme, and the hope is that it comes with a lot more pass coverage consistency in time. Solak ultimately may land on the right conclusion, but I do disagree with a bit of his initial reasoning. The bigger issue to me is the failure to meaningfully upgrade at edge and wide receiver along with Jones’ continued questionable 2026 health. Fingers crossed it turns out differently for the Colts, and in a good way!
Preview of the Eagles' Week 10 game against the Steelers, noting key additions like HC Mike McCarthy, CB Jamel Dean, RB Rico Dowdle, and WR Michael Pittman, and subtractions like HC Mike Tomlin, G Isaac Seumalo, and RB Kenneth Gainwell. The article references last season's energy with Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin
Las week, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took to Instagram to post photos from a retreat he led with several teammates. DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Pat Freiermuth, Ben Skowronek, Mason Rudolph, and Roman Wilson went on a trip to Wyoming, per one of the photos being taken at Jackson Hole. Now, Rodgers has given everyone a rare glimpse into his personal life. On Monday evening, the Steelers' quarterback posted photos with his mother Darla, father Ed, and brother Luke with the caption, "Another bonding week." Rodgers was infamously estranged from his family for north of a decade, as it was revealed by his brother Jordan that the Super Bowl-winning quarterback didn't speak to the rest of the family in 2016 while Jordan was competing on The Bachelorette. "It's just the way he's chosen to do life," Jordan said . "I chose to stay close with my family and my parents and my brother [Luke]." While Rodgers cited his parent's strict religious beliefs as the main reason for the falling out, it appears that the bridge has been rebuilt. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested in Ohio Top 30 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time: No. 20-11 Steelers' Mason McCormick named to PFF's 2026 All-Breakout team Jon Gruden urges Steelers to put their faith in Mike McCarthy Learning the Mike McCarthy offense: What is the West Coast offense?
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and after a number of scant seasons, a team that once had a reputation for never missing at the position again looks to have one of its strongest receiver rooms in years. With the offense running primarily through the running backs and tight ends in Arthur Smith's final season as offensive coordinator, DK Metcalf's 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns all led the position group by a wide margin. With new head coach Mike McCarthy assuming play-calling duties in his reunion with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, there is an expectation for more three-receiver sets and a higher passing volume. And while a 42-year-old Rodgers may no longer have the arm talent that allowed him to reach one of the highest peaks in the history of the league, Bernard's combination of size and speed, along with his dependability and inside-to-outside versatility, make him a perfect fit in an offense looking to push the ball downfield as much as Rodgers' right shoulder will allow. While a bit of an overlapping skill set with Michael Pittman Jr. could limit his ceiling, particularly early in the year, Bernard is practically free in drafts, and at RotoBaller's WR68, he's a player worth taking a late-round swing on in hopes that the Steelers offense could surprise in 2026
