Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf spent Sunday night in Baltimore after being taken to a local hospital with stomach pains following the team’s road win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Metcalf was coming off his best performance since joining Pittsburgh. In the 27 to 22 victory, he caught seven passes for 148 yards and repeatedly stretched the Ravens secondary. He completed the game without any obvious visible injury on the field.
The issue began after the game as the team prepared to fly home. While the Steelers were on the plane, Metcalf reported stomach pains. Team medical staff decided not to risk a mid flight emergency and arranged for him to be taken off the aircraft and evaluated at a nearby hospital in Baltimore.
In a post on social media, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport relayed the update from the team spokesman, Burt Lauten:
“Steelers standout WR DK Metcalf stayed overnight in Baltimore hotel after going to a local hospital following the game, team spokesman @SteelersPRBurt confirmed. Metcalf was experiencing stomach pains on the flight and out of an abundance of caution, team medical personnel sent…”
That sequence matches what multiple team focused and national outlets have reported. Metcalf was checked at the hospital to rule out any serious internal issue, then released and kept in Baltimore overnight for observation rather than rushing him back on the team plane.
By Monday morning, he had been cleared to travel. Reports indicate he is scheduled to fly back to Pittsburgh and rejoin the team, with his condition to be monitored through the week as the Steelers prepare for their next game. At this point, the situation is being described as a stomach related problem that required precautionary care, not a long term medical setback.
The timing of the scare adds extra attention because of the role Metcalf has started to carve out in the Steelers offense. Since arriving in Pittsburgh, he has been expected to anchor the passing game. A night where he delivered 148 yards in a tight divisional win was the kind of performance the team envisioned when it made the move for him.
For now, the focus shifts from the box score to his health. The team will want to be sure that the stomach issue does not resurface and that there are no hidden complications from the hit he took during the game that some outlets have linked to the decision to send him for tests. Early indications suggest the visit was mainly about caution and confirmation, not a serious diagnosis.
With the Steelers sitting in a tight division race after beating Baltimore on the road, Metcalf’s status will be one of the key storylines to watch as the week continues. His ability to return to full participation will matter both for the offense and for a locker room that just watched one of its biggest playmakers head to a hospital instead of the team plane.
