Germie Bernard — Week 3: One Target, a Week After Eight
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Bernard was thrown to once and caught it for 14 yards, first and ten from the Cincinnati 28 in the third quarter to the 14, three snaps before DK Metcalf's go-ahead touchdown. With Michael Pittman back after missing Week 2, his targets went from 8 to 1, in a 30–27 win over the Bengals.
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20 to 17, Bengals, four 59 left in the third quarter, first and 10 at the Cincinnati 28. Aaron Rodgers threw short middle to Germie Bernard for 14 yards to the 14. +0.8 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position. Three snaps later DK Metcalf caught the six-yard touchdown that put Pittsburgh ahead. It was Bernard's only target of the game.
The line: one target, one catch, 14 yards, one first down. Rodgers's 34 attempts went six to Roman Wilson, five each to Metcalf and Michael Pittman, four each to Jaylen Warren, Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth, one each to Bernard, Ben Skowronek and Robert Tonyan, and three with no listed receiver. Pittman was back after missing Week 2, and with him out Bernard had eight targets and four catches for 35 yards, the most receiving yards on the team. In Week 1, with Pittman active, Bernard was active, per Dave Bryan at Steelers Depot, and not thrown to. Sunday, with Pittman active again, it was one.
Back in June the preview's record on Bernard was the price Pittsburgh paid — three picks to move up to 47 — and its read was that rookie third receivers are lineup noise until targets say otherwise. Three games have said none, eight and one, and the eight came with Pittman out. Nine targets, five catches, 49 yards. His one catch Sunday was a first down on a touchdown drive, which is as much as one target can do. Pittsburgh is at the Browns on Thursday the first.
_Data via nflverse._
When Germie Bernard's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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