After spending four seasons with the Green Bay Packers earlier in his career, Marquez Valdes-Scantling knows what an intense, old-school division rivalry is all about.
Packers-Chicago Bears is not a bad equivalent to Steelers-Ravens. And Valdes-Scantling is set to make his Steelers debut amidst that rivalry. He was another practice-squad elevation announced Saturday by the Steelers.
“Obviously, I’ve only been here a couple weeks,” said Valdes-Scantling, a 31-year-old, eight-year NFL veteran. “So I don’t have the bad blood (for the Ravens) that some of the other guys might have built up over the years. So, it’s just another opportunity to go out and hopefully my number’s called and go ahead and play.”
A speedster who during his prime was one of the best in the NFL on deep downfield receptions, Valdes-Scantling had four receptions for 40 yards in five games for the San Francisco 49ers this season. The Steelers signed him to the practice squad Nov. 4.
Valdes-Scantling has a history with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who twice won NFL MVP with Valdes-Scantling part of his receiving corps.
“I’m prepared to play all the (WR) positions,” Valdes-Scantling said. “When my number is called, I can go out there and perform.”
Valdes-Scantling is in line to make his Steelers debut the same game that fellow veteran Adam Thielen will. Thielen, a 35-year-old former Pro Bowler, was claimed off waivers this past week.
“We’ve seen a lot of things on the football side and at the wideout position and made a lot of plays in our career,” Valdes-Scantling said. “So just being able to bounce information off of one another, how we see the game, how we run certain routes, and you know, pass it down to the younger guys.”
