Steelers' highlight-reel WR gets chance to shine after teammate's injury

Pittsburgh Steelers electric second-year pro George Pickens is getting his first chance to step in as the team's No. 1 wide receiver.

The opportunity comes due to teammate Diontae Johnson's hamstring injury that he suffered in the Steelers' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The one-time Pro Bowl wideout is reportedly expected to miss a few weeks.

Johnson has been Pittsburgh's best receiver every year since he entered the league in 2019, pacing the roster in targets each season, receptions and receiving yards three times and touchdowns twice. He had a down 2022 campaign, finishing with his fewest catches and receiving yards since his rookie year and somehow failing to score a touchdown, but his targets (147) were still nearly 50 more than any other player and his catch total (86) was 23 more than the second-highest amount.

Pickens was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and showed flashes of brilliance in his first taste of the league.

The former University of Georgia Bulldog led the squad with his four touchdown catches and 15.4 yards per reception, ranked second in receiving yards (801) and receiving first downs (38) and was third in targets (84) and catches (52). Pickens added a few rushing attempts and one score on the ground and made a host of highlight-reel catches during his and quarterback Kenny Pickett's debut seasons.

Now, with a struggling rushing attack combined with a wounded aerial attack (tight end Pat Freiermuth is battling a chest injury in addition to Johnson's ailment), Pickens has a shot at becoming the focal point of the Steelers offense headed into Week 2.

Pittsburgh hosts the Cleveland Browns -- who held quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to three points in Week 1 -- at 8:15 p.m. ET in the Week 2 edition of "Monday Night Football."