Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — Sitting in his new locker catty-corner to Aaron Rodgers' within the Pittsburgh Steelers' observe facility, extensive receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was clear Wednesday on what introduced him to Pittsburgh.
Reuniting together with his quarterback from Inexperienced Bay Packers wasn't an enormous cause. It was the one cause.
“This man subsequent to me received me right here,” the receiver stated, gesturing to Rodgers. “You have been making an attempt to get me round since we left Inexperienced Bay.
“… He's the explanation.”
A couple of minutes later, as Rodgers stood in entrance of a podium within the locker room for his weekly assembly with the media, the extensive receiver joined the scrum and yelled out his personal query.
“How excited are you to have MVS again,” he stated.
Rodgers grinned.
“I like MVS,” the quarterback stated, pointing to his outdated pal and chuckling.
We had a brand new face crash our scrum with Aaron Rodgers right now.
Q: How excited are you to have MVS again?
Rodgers: “😁😁😁 I like MVS!” pic.twitter.com/9pJuMictI8
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 5, 2025
Valdes-Scantling spent 4 seasons with Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay, catching 13 landing passes from the quarterback from 2018 to 2021. Rodgers gained the NFL's MVP award in two of these seasons, together with a 2020 marketing campaign wherein Valdes-Scantling caught a career-high six touchdowns and led the league with 20.9 yards per reception.
“He is the most effective that ever performed this recreation, man,” Valdes-Scantling stated. “So it is fairly straightforward whenever you received that man beneath heart and simply being on the identical web page. We constructed an important rapport over the 4 years that we received to play collectively, and he is one among my closest pals on this NFL factor that I've ever made. He is taught me loads, so simply with the ability to be round him once more and get some extra data 4 years later, I am enthusiastic about it.”
Valdes-Scantling, who was launched by the San Francisco 49ers with an harm settlement final month, was between signing with the 49ers or the Steelers through the preseason, however he initially opted for the 49ers as a result of Klay Kubiak's system was just like the one run by his brother Klint in New Orleans. Valdes-Scantling scored 4 touchdowns in eight video games with the Saints final season.
He is additionally spent two seasons with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and half a season with the Buffalo Payments.
The receiver stated it was a “joint effort” with Rodgers that led to him touchdown on Pittsburgh's observe squad simply previous to the commerce deadline.
“He known as, and we talked about it a pair occasions, and he stated he would like to have me right here, made his pitch, and it was right down to the wire, to be trustworthy,” Valdes-Scantling stated. “I used to be already on the West Coast, so it was type of simpler to remain over there transferring round and stuff. However going again dwelling for per week and get reset and I stated, ‘Hey man, I need to hold enjoying this factor.' And gave Aaron a name and he was like, ‘let's do it.'”
Valdes-Scantling was initially positioned on IR by the 49ers after 5 video games with a calf harm, however he stated Wednesday that he is wholesome.
Although the Steelers inquired a few handful of extensive receivers to pair with high wideout DK Metcalf previous to the commerce deadline, Valdes-Scantling was the Steelers' lone pass-catching addition Tuesday. “What I've discovered concerning the commerce deadline is there's numerous dialog and barely is there numerous motion,” Rodgers stated. “… There was some huge ones yesterday, however you are feeling fairly good about your guys, and we added Marquez to the p-squad. We have had guys on the p-squad who've been enjoying for us.”
Valdes-Scantling admitted he had preliminary reservations about being on the observe squad.
“I do know that I can nonetheless play in league,” he stated. “And so it was undoubtedly some hesitation there, however I do know that when I stand up to hurry, I will be capable of step on the sector.”
Groups can twice elevate observe squad gamers to the sport day roster earlier than they need to signal them to the 53-man roster to be lively on a recreation day, so there's an opportunity Valdes-Scantling may make his debut Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, particularly as Scotty Miller continues to work via a damaged finger.
Valdes-Scantling stated he is not fearful about an early elevation, although.
“My contract is assured, so I receives a commission, it doesn't matter what, the identical,” he stated. “So it was extra so about, ‘Hey, how can I be capable of come right here and study as quick as I can.'”
