PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their second preseason game. This week they host the Buffalo Bills for a joint practice at St. Vincent College, followed by a game at Acrisure Stadium. For the Steelers, that meant a chance to see former wide receiver Chase Claypool in action. Unfortunately, it looks like they won’t get that chance.

The former Steelers receiver will not participate in joint practice or preseason games due to an injury. As Buffalo Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg reported, Claypool has been placed on the injured list, effectively ending his 2024 season. She shared the update on her X account.

“The Bills have placed wide receiver Chase Claypool (toe) on the injured list,” she wrote. “Originally described as an everyday injury, Claypool missed most of training camp.”

Claypool was originally selected by the Steelers in the second round (49th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Notre Dame. Born in Abbotsford, British Columbia, the Canadian receiver had extremely high expectations entering his NFL career. With a rare combination of size and speed, he quickly became an intriguing young player for the Steelers.

During his rookie season in Pittsburgh, he caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns and developed into a weapon on long-distance passes. As a sophomore in the NFL, he caught 59 passes for 860 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite his impressive performance as a young player in the NFL, his relationship with the Steelers organization was strained during his third season, resulting in the team trading him to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That pick was later used to select defensive back Joey Porter Jr.

Since his departure, life in the NFL has become much harder for the receiver. In one and a half seasons with the Bears, he caught only 18 passes for less than 200 yards and a single touchdown.

2023 was no different for Claypool. He played the season between the Bears and Miami Dolphins, but failed to make an impression on either team. In total, he played in 12 games and caught just eight passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.

Now he is in his fourth organization and it is unclear if he will play in 2024. If he gets healthy again, the Bills may not have room for him and the once-promising receiver will be looking for a new home in the NFL.

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