Pittsburgh Steelers team orthopedic doctor James Bradley (left) looks at the right arm of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) after Smith-Schuster suffered an injury against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster needs shoulder surgery, out four months

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/11/21

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may have played his last game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t Brooke Pryor), Smith-Schuster will have surgery later this week to repair the dislocated shoulder he suffered in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the Denver Broncos and be sidelined four months. Based on that timeline, the 24-year-old will miss the remainder of the season.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is in visible pain and has been helped off of the field. pic.twitter.com/yLSBwzmnHu
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 10, 2021

Smith-Schuster reportedly turned down more money to remain with Pittsburgh on a one-year contract in March. Per ESPN stats, he ends his campaign fourth on the Steelers with 15 receptions on 28 targets for 129 yards with only one touchdown, a rushing score. Thus far throughout his career, he's accumulated 323 catches for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns, nine of which he tallied last season.

"Injuries are going to happen," fellow Pittsburgh wide receiver Diontae Johnson told reporters Monday. "And it's next man up, so [Ray-Ray McCloud's] gotta step up, and that's how it's always been — one person goes down, somebody got to step in, and everybody is capable of [contributing to the offense].

"We are still going to go out there and play for JuJu. We still go out there and do our thing Sundays and get ready, for this week, too."

McCloud has just five receptions for 36 yards this season but should see an uptick in targets beginning with this coming Sunday's contest versus the Seattle Seahawks.

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