Steelers Sign Ex-Giants Amid Harsh Criticism Over Shaky WR2 Spot

Pittsburgh, PA – September 17, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made another move to address one of the most debated topics surrounding their roster: the wide receiver depth chart. On Tuesday, the team signed former New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins — a player once labeled a breakout star, but whose career since then has been defined by inconsistency.

The signing doesn’t come in a vacuum. For weeks, both local media and national analysts have pointed to the Steelers’ WR2 position as a glaring weakness. Rookie Roman Wilson flashed potential in training camp, but questions remain about his ability to handle the pressure of being the second option behind DK Metcalf. Calvin Austin III has speed but has yet to prove he can be more than a gadget player.

That uncertainty left the Steelers searching for answers — and Hodgins, a 6-foot-3 possession receiver with playoff experience, became the latest attempt to stabilize the spot.

At first glance, Hodgins brings promise. In 2022, he looked like a hidden gem for the Giants, hauling in 33 receptions for 351 yards and 4 touchdowns in just eight games. He followed that up with a playoff performance that turned heads: 8 catches, 105 yards, and a touchdown against the Vikings in the Wild Card round.

But since that moment, his production has dwindled. In 2023, Hodgins managed just 21 receptions for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns. By 2024, his role diminished almost entirely, spending most of the year on the practice squad and contributing just 2 receptions for 12 yards.

Critics are quick to point out that if Hodgins struggled to stay relevant on a Giants team desperate for receivers, how will he thrive in Pittsburgh’s already scrutinized WR2 battle?

From a front office perspective, Hodgins represents a low-risk, low-cost signing. He has size, reliable hands, and prior playoff experience — qualities that could provide depth or even surprise upside. But fans and analysts alike remain skeptical, questioning whether this move is about improving the WR2 position or simply adding another name to the rotation.

Social media reactions were swift. One fan wrote: “We don’t need another experiment, we need stability. WR2 is holding this offense back.” Another added: “If Hodgins can’t shine here, then it’s clear the Steelers need to look outside the building for a real fix.”

For Hodgins, the challenge is clear. This isn’t Buffalo, where he never saw the field. It isn’t New York, where one hot stretch gave him brief fame. This is Pittsburgh — a city where receivers are expected to deliver, where the WR legacy runs from Lynn Swann to Antonio Brown to George Pickens.

If Isaiah Hodgins can rediscover the form he showed in 2022, he could be the answer the Steelers desperately need. But if not, this signing may only fuel the growing criticism that the WR2 problem is real — and unsolved.