Antonio Brown has been away from football for about two and a half calendar years and has not played for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2017. However, the wide receiver’s mark on the Steelers’ organization remains to this day.
Former Rams and Falcons receiver Van Jefferson revealed to Aaron Becker of Yardbarker that he catches 300 balls per day, which he claims is the same workout that Brown employed.
“The equipment staff put me onto (AB’s) workout when he was here,” Jefferson said. “AB was a great so why not try to follow his regiment?”
Jefferson currently sits as the second wide receiver on the team, according to ESPN’s depth chart. George Pickens appears to have clinched the top receiver role. However, beyond that, it appears that not much is set in stone in the room.
Jefferson’s recent production indicates that he might be in over his head as the second-string receiver. Over the last two years, Jefferson failed to eclipse 250 yards in either season. However, the biggest thing in his corner in terms of production is what he accomplished in 2021.
During the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl that season, Jefferson earned 802 yards and six touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. The Steelers are likely is banking on getting a similar return from Jefferson if he holds onto the second-string role.
Steelers’ Van Jefferson leaves plenty of room for improvement heading into 2024
Of course, it is far from a guarantee. Jefferson played with offensive mastermind Sean McVay for more than three seasons and had just one season of WR2 quality.
The Steelers are hoping that they can duplicate what McVay accomplished with Jefferson with lesser quarterback play by reusing Brown’s workout. Steelers fans can hope for a change for Jefferson, but the deck might be stacked against Pittsburgh here.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields’ quarterback battle also could harm Jefferson’s production. No matter how one slices it, there likely will be a step down from Matthew Stafford to Wilson/Fields. Meaning, passes won’t be as accurate or timely, forcing Jefferson to do plenty of the heavy lifting. Considering Jefferson might need help on his own, this could set up to be one of the less effective duos of the season.
While there is always a chance that a Puka Nacua-type player could arrive out of nowhere, teams should not count on it. If a newcomer doesn’t rise, it falls on Jefferson to elevate in a way he only has once in his career.
The Steelers like Jefferson enough to hand him an opportunity. Will he rise to the occasion?
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
