The Pittsburgh Steelers want to get the ball into DK Metcalf's hands as often as possible. After all, they traded with the Seattle Seahawks for the two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver during the offseason and signed him to a five-year, $150-million contract.

Metcalf has been targeted with 54 passes through the Steelers' first nine games. That is 18 more than anyone else, as wide receiver Calvin Austin II and tight end Jonnu Smith have 36 each.

Metcalf has 32 catches for 502 yards and five touchdowns, which are all team-leading figures. Yet Metcalf is just 53rd in the NFL in receptions, essentially because defenses pay extra attention to him. The Los Angeles Chargers double-teamed Metcalf consistently last Sunday night, holding him to three receptions for 35 yards, in their 25-10 victory over the Steelers.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers knows the Steelers need to get Metcalf more involved in the offense. The problem is that the Steelers don't have a second dangerous wide receiver threat. Austin has just 21 receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns.

"DK is an A receiver," Rodgers said on Wednesday during his weekly media availability. "He's a dominant player, and we need to find ways, even when he's getting doubled, to give him more targets. But when they double him the way they doubled him the other night, there's not as many opportunities as you might think."

Rodgers was asked about various wide receivers who might emerge as more significant contributors to the offense. Not surprisingly, Rodgers gave an endorsement to veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was signed to the practice squad last week. Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-21.

"I love MVS," Rodgers said. "We've got a lot of history together. If he's ready, and he's showing in practice that he's got a grasp with the offense, I'm sure they'll put him out there. If MVS is out there, I feel comfortable because I played with him a lot of snaps."

Scotty Miller has been limited to one reception for 9 yards this season while missing three games with a broken finger. He is in his seventh NFL season but has just 91 career catches for 1,163 yards and six touchdowns.

"He runs fast and he catches the ball," Rodgers said. "He's an unselfish guy, and he's super smart. He knows his scheme and understands where he fits in all the progressions."

As a rookie last season, Roman Wilson played in only one game because of injuries and had no receptions. He has 11 catches for 149 yards and two TDs this year.

Wilson scored the Steelers' lone touchdown against the Chargers on a 27-yard reception late in the fourth quarter with the game already decided. Rodgers and Wilson also connected for a 21-yard score against the Packers on Oct. 26.

"(The touchdown on Sunday) was a good play, but I think the play, the adjustment he made in Green Bay, was a better play than that one," Rodgers said. "He just kind of ran the route, caught, and ran fast. To me, the better play was in Green Bay when he had a go route and just kind of broke his route off and pointed to the middle field and made a contested catch."