PITTSBURGH — You are not going to replace JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot.
It’s not possible given what the Steelers have asked of the fifth-year wide receiver and what he has turned that position into. Smith-Schuster’s numbers haven’t been staggering since his full-time move at the beginning of last year, but his third-down conversions, his uniqueness as a big-bodied slot receiver and his willingness to run into people to the benefit of others are not easily found in football.
Even though Smith-Schuster said he wanted to get away from the slot in the spring, that didn’t happen.
The Steelers have used three wide receivers 76 percent of the time in their five games. They rank only slightly behind the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington Football Team. Last year, that number was at 74 percent. For Smith-Schuster, 74.3 percent of his 222 snaps have been in the slot this year, and 40 percent of his catches have gone for first downs.
Even though Smith-Schuster didn’t particularly like playing in the slot (most likely because of money reasons), he was extremely good at it. Now, the Steelers have to find a way to make up for his loss after he injured his right shoulder Sunday in the win over the Broncos. Surgery was set for Wednesday and he will miss the rest of the season.
