DK Metcalf isn’t done for the season just yet. Despite his two-game suspension, Metcalf can still return for the playoffs if the Steelers clinch a spot. Pittsburgh needs to win one of its final two games or get help via a Ravens loss to punch its ticket. In other words, Metcalf’s regular season is on pause, not necessarily his postseason.
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That context matters, because the conversation around Metcalf this week hasn’t just been about football. It’s been about where players draw the line with fans, and no one put it more plainly than Rob Gronkowski.
Speaking about Metcalf’s suspension, Gronkowski didn’t sugarcoat the situation. While he expressed confidence that Pittsburgh will survive without its star receiver for now, his message to Metcalf was direct and rooted in experience.
“I think the Steelers are going to clinch no matter what. They’re going to get it done even without DK. DK, you just got to be the bigger man in this situation. No matter what they say to you, no matter what remark they have, you just got to be the bigger man.”
Gronk acknowledged the reality of the NFL’s double standard: fans can say almost anything, but players cannot respond physically.
“It’s a double standard as a player. You can talk garbage back to a fan. Just got to keep your hands off of fans.”
While Gronk focused on player accountability, Aaron Rodgers expanded the discussion to include fans themselves. Rodgers pushed back against the idea that buying a ticket gives someone an unlimited license to provoke players.
“I think there’s a mindset that you pay for a ticket, you say whatever the hell you want. I think there should be some sort of code of conduct.”
Rodgers also suggested the incident involving Metcalf wasn’t accidental or harmless:
“Obviously that was intentional and I think there was some celebration afterward on his part.”
The most telling response, however, came not from television studios,but from Pittsburgh’s front office.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the Steelers have reaffirmed their commitment to Metcalf for 2026 and beyond, despite contract language that could have allowed them to void massive guarantees following his suspension. Metcalf’s two-game ban triggered a clause stating that future guarantees “shall be null and void,” potentially wiping out: a fully guaranteed $25 million salary in 2026 and a $20 million injury guarantee in 2027.
On paper, that’s an easy out. In practice, it’s far more complicated. League sources note that teams typically must formally notify players in writing if they intend to void guarantees. Without that notice, any later attempt to release Metcalf could lead to a grievance the Steelers might lose. Pittsburgh doesn’t seem interested in testing that edge.
Rather than using the suspension as a contractual hammer, the Steelers are signaling that Metcalf remains a foundational piece, not a disposable asset. Elite receivers are hard to replace, and cutting ties over a short suspension, one unrelated to PEDs or long-term legal trouble, would create more problems than it solves.
Still, the Steelers will be without their most explosive pass catcher for the next two weeks. And unless Baltimore loses to Green Bay, Pittsburgh must win at least once in that stretch. Metcalf’s absence will be felt, but it may not be crippling. The Steelers’ offense hasn’t revolved solely around him. Kenneth Gainwell leads the team with 62 receptions, seven players have 25+ catches, and Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have become meaningful contributors. Metcalf’s biggest loss is explosive plays; his 14.4 yards per catch lead the team.
Speed threats like Valdes-Scantling and Calvin Austin III will be tasked with stretching the field, while 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson could see his opportunity expand.
