Steelers activate WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling ahead of MNF vs. Dolphins

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Ahead of the Week 15 matchup, Pittsburgh signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Fellow wideout Ke’Shawn Williams was released in a related move. Additionally, the Steelers elevated offensive lineman Jack Driscoll and defensive end DeMarvin Leal to the Active/Inactive Roster. Driscoll and Leal will revert back to practice squad after Monday’s game.

Valdes-Scantling, 31, was signed to the practice squad Nov. 4. He made his team debut in last Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens, seeing one target on offense. Valdes-Scantling appeared in five games earlier this season for the San Francisco 49ers, catching four passes for 40 yards.

The former USF standout is in his eighth season in the NFL. He has spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2018-21), Kansas City Chiefs (2022-23), Buffalo Bills (2024), New Orleans Saints (2024) and 49ers (2025). Valdes-Scantling, in his career, has 209 receptions for 3,606 yards and 20 touchdowns.

The Steelers, 7-6 and in first place in the AFC North, are looking for more production out of their pass catchers. DK Metcalf leads the team with 52 receptions for 753 yards and five touchdowns. Calvin Austin III is the next leading receiver with 27 catches for 309 yards and two scores.

Steelers call up Marquez Valdes-Scantling, down T.J. Watt vs. Dolphins

Pittsburgh will notably be without All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt against the Dolphins. Earlier this week, the Steelers announced that Watt had been hospitalized after experiencing discomfort in his lung. Watt experienced discomfort during a treatment session at the team facility.

On Friday, Watt’s brother, famed NFL defender J.J. Watt, provided an update with some new information: “Yesterday TJ had successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung suffered Wednesday after a dry needling treatment session at the facility. Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today. He and his family are very appreciative of everyone’s kind words and well wishes.”

With Watt down, Pittsburgh will ask for more from players such as Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. Herbig has been effective in his role, which will expand Monday.

“I think that’s been the name of the game in my career since I’ve been here,” Herbig said. “Just being able to stay ready, never knowing when your number’s going to get called, never know when you’re going to have opportunities to help the team in a bigger role. I think that’s been my story. And I accept that. I accept my role on this team and I’m going to do whatever I can help.

“It’s the next man up mentality, keeping the standard the standard. I know that T.J. has full trust in me and the room and the group that we’re going be able to pick up the slack for him. Obviously, you can’t replace a guy like that, a Hall of Famer, the best in the league, the best that will ever do it. It’s hard to replace a guy like that, but we’re going to do everything in our ability to make sure we do the right things by him.”