With the NFL trade deadline coming up next week, we're rounding up the latest Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors from around the web and analyzing whether there's truth to any of them.
Today, we're taking a look at a waiver wire target that could improve Pittsburgh's passing game, whether Jarvis Jones will be ready for Sunday's game against Oakland, and whether Todd Haley will be back in Pittsburgh next season.
Will the Steelers snag TE Tony Moeaki off the Waiver Wire?
The Steelers have been heavily reliant on TE Heath Miller for some time now, but they may have found a player who can provide valuable cover at the tight end position. Former Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki broke his scapula in a preseason game against the Steelers, and was placed on the injured reserve list shortly after. He reached an injury settlement with the Chiefs when it became apparent that he could return this year, and his release means whoever signs him off the waiver wire could potentially play him right away.
Moeaki has 80 catches, 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. Heath Miller is currently Pittsburgh's only healthy tight end, and it doesn't look like David Johnson (on the IR with a dislocated wrist) or Richard Gordon (yet to practice thanks to a foot injury) will be able to contribute any time soon (if at all). Moeaki (if healthy) could help this team, and we think Pittsburgh needs badly enough to roll the dice on Moeaki even if they can't be absolutely positive that he's ready to go.
Will the Steelers claim Moeaki? We think there's a 75% chance they do.
Will Jarvis Jones play against Oakland on Sunday?
Jarvis Jones sat out last weekend's win over the Baltimore Ravens with concussion-like symptoms, and his replacement, Jason Worilds, didn't exactly inspire much confidence. Even if the Steelers want Jones to play and he thinks he's ready to go, he'll still have to pass the NFL's rigorous concussion tests leading up to Sunday's game.
Everything we've heard out of Pittsburgh makes it sound as though Jones will be ready to roll. The symptoms he suffered were reportedly minor, but Jones has already had two reported concussions. In his sophomore year of college, Jones suffered a concussion so severe that USC doctors refused to clear him - he had to transfer to Georgia to continue his football career. The Steelers have every reason to take this seriously, but we think there's a solid chance he'll play Sunday.
Will Jarvis Jones Play Sunday?
60% Yes
40% No
Will Todd Haley be back as Steelers offensive coordinator next season?
Todd Haley's offense has made progress over the past few weeks, but the Steelers' two-game winning streak is much more a result of getting things together on defense than a sea change on offense. Haley's future depends a lot on whether or not Pittsburgh can turn an 0-4 start into a respectable season, but if the Steelers continue to flounder and fail to improve their running game (Pittsburgh averages just 74.3 yards per game on the ground), the blame will fall on Haley.
If Pittsburgh wins less than four games this season, Haley is gone. If they win five or six, there's a 50% chance he'll be shown the door. If the Steelers can manage to end up with seven or more wins, we think Haley's job is safe.
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