Germie Bernard is no longer a rookie the Pittsburgh Steelers can ease along. With three of their top five receivers unavailable for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay, the second-round pick from Alabama is set for a full-time role next to DK Metcalf, and coach Mike McCarthy says he is ready for it.
“Football comes easy to him,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “I think there’s some young guy mistakes he made (Sunday), but you can see it coming. I think he’s acclimated very well to the offense. The ability to play all three positions, he sticks his nose in there in the run game too. I’ve been very, very impressed.”
Rodgers’ most-targeted receiver
Bernard got his first big chance in Sunday’s 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts and made the most of it. He caught six passes for 80 yards on nine targets, the most of any Steeler, with a long of 25 on a third-and-2 throw from Aaron Rodgers that moved the chains to the Colts’ 31. After the game he was asked how a day like that helps his confidence, in the clip above.
Rodgers, who has not been shy about freezing out receivers he does not trust, liked what he saw. “I was really proud of Germ,” he said after the game, “the way he stepped in.”
Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio expects the connection to grow. “I think with each week, we’ll see him get more and more comfortable and settle into the offense,” he said. “Him and Aaron, the more they play together, the more that Germ will feel and anticipate what Aaron is going to do.”
Why the role is growing
Pittsburgh placed Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve last week with a foot injury, so he will miss at least four games. Then Roman Wilson (finger) and Ben Skowronek (calf) were hurt against the Colts. Both missed practice Wednesday, and McCarthy has already ruled them out. “Both receivers will not be available this week,” he said, adding that for now he expects it to be a one-week absence.
McCarthy said he has known practice-squad receiver Brandon Smith a long time and that Smith, who was elevated for the Colts game, “will definitely get more opportunities.” Rodgers has also talked up Smith, Brandon Johnson, Isaiah Hodgins and tight end Robert Tonyan as in-house options at receiver. Bernard, though, is the one with the inside track to the No. 2 job.
McCarthy said that from the day Pittsburgh drafted him, Bernard has picked things up quickly. “You have a classroom operation. There’s communication that goes there, you take it through the walk-through, and then when you get your chance in live action, just his process has been pretty smooth,” he said. “Some processes are smoother than others.”
Up next: Tampa Bay
The Steelers (3-2) visit the Buccaneers (1-4) on Sunday, October 18, at 1 p.m. EDT. Tampa Bay held quarterback Baker Mayfield (right thumb) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (rib) out of practice Wednesday.
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