For most of the season Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf has been a man of few words. Today, he made his biggest headline. Ahead of Sunday’s rematch against the Cincinnati Bengals, Metcalf urged the Bengals to follow the same game plan as Week 7 and have CB DJ Turner II shadow him throughout the game.

“Steelers WR DK Metcalf said he hopes Bengals CB DJ Turner follows him again this entire game like he did last game,” Metcalf said as paraphrased by this Brian Batko tweet. “He called Turner a good player but he’s looking forward to that matchup again.”

Steelers WR DK Metcalf said he hopes Bengals CB DJ Turner follows him again this entire game like he did last game. He called Turner a good player but he’s looking forward to that matchup again.

— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 12, 2025

 

“He is a good player,” was Metcalf’s full quote via the team website. “Looking forward to our matchup on Sunday. I know he’s been in the lab working since last time we played each other.  So looking forward to lining up against him. Hopefully, he can follow me the whole game like he did last game. And looking forward to that matchup.”

Metcalf had a loud beginning against the Bengals, catching a 39-yard pass over Turner on the third play of the game. Quiet the rest of the night, Metcalf finished with just three catches for 50 yards on just five targets. Instead, Aaron Rodgers found other outlets in a 31-point outburst. Tight end Pat Freiermuth had the latest in string of great performances against Cincinnati, finding the end zone twice.

The Bengals game began the quiet spell Metcalf is currently in, failing to eclipse 55 yards in any of his last four games and only finding the end zone once. Turner spent much of the game on him. Despite Metcalf’s pedestrian numbers, he’s embracing the challenge of facing Turner again. Turner has turned into the Bengals’ top cornerback and bright spot on a historically bad defense, recording an NFL-best 14 pass breakups with two interceptions.

Perhaps Metcalf is embracing the competition. Or perhaps he feels he has a tell on Turner to best him the second time around. Of course, even if Turner shadows Metcalf again, he’s likely to have help. Metcalf has regularly seen double-coverage that was especially pronounced Sunday in the Steelers’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Coming off an underwhelming performance against the Indianapolis Colts and a downright terrible one versus the Chargers, the Steelers’ offense is in clear need of getting back on track. That means the stars and studs must play up to standard. Beginning with Rodgers, coming off his worst game in Pittsburgh, but extending to Metcalf and the rest of the unit.

The victor of Sunday’s game may be which two-letter player has the better outing: DK or DJ.