The Pittsburgh Steelers are benching wide receiver Donte Moncrief. The 26-year-old starter from Weeks 1 and 2 earned a spot in the team's inactive list heading into their Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Rookie Diontae Johnson will get the start alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster. James Washington and Nick Switzer figure to be integral parts of the passing offense; which is facing even more change with quarterback Mason Rudolph receiving his first NFL start.
Moncrief signed a two-year $9 million contract with the Steelers in free agency to be their No. 2 receiver. He hasn't been that. In two games, Moncrief turned 11 targets into three receptions for seven yards. He has more drops (four) than receptions. His lone target in Week 2 led to a drop passed turned interception; the Steelers didn't play him for the rest of the game.
After his first disappointing game, Moncrief expressed his emotions.
“It’s sickening when you watch it and you know the plays that you’re supposed to make and you didn’t make them,” Moncrief said, via Pro Football Talk. “And you see them and you’re like, ‘Gosh, I know I gotta make that.’ The other day, after we watched that film, there was a feeling in my stomach, it hurt. I went home, went straight to sleep, it hurt me. I had to put that away.”
Though Moncrief is going through a slump and won't play on Sunday, there is still time for him to make up for his struggles, as the season is still young.
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