DK Metcalf Talks Criticism of Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, 'Accept People For Who They Are'

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf pushed back against criticism of the personalities of the star quarterbacks he's worked with in a recent interview with The Athletic's Jonathan Jones.

Metcalf defended both Russell Wilson, with whom he played for three seasons on the Seattle Seahawks, as well as his current teammate Aaron Rodgers ahead of the Steelers' Sunday season opener.

"I never liked when people called Russ corny," Metcalf said, per Jones. "Because what if that's just Russ? Why does it have to be a specific title to it? Russ is always great to me. Never looked at him as corny. He's a great father, great football player, a great friend, great brother, great businessman, but I never looked at him as corny.

Metcalf continued, per Jones, "Same way as I never look at Aaron as an a--hole. He's just a perfectionist. He's done everything at a high clip his whole life. And if you don't do that around him, then you're lazy in his eyes.

"So you either have to meet people where they are, or don't hang around them. So people just have to just accept people for who they are."

Metcalf's comments to Jones comes after both he and Rodgers discussed their relationship in August appearances on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show.

Rodgers told McAfee last month the two had bonded when the quarterback hosted some of his pass catchers this summer in Idaho.

"Last year, compared to this year, it felt like we were teammates, and this year we're actually really close friends," Rodgers said.

Metcalf told McAfee on the same episode, "We definitely got the chance to get to know each other on a more intimate level this offseason.

"Last year we were still teammates. I didn't want to mess up, he didn't want to mess up, we were just not on the same page a couple times. But this is going to be special this year."

Metcalf missed two games last season but still led Steelers receivers in targets (99), catches (59), receiving yards (850) and receiving touchdowns (six).

The Steelers will now hope improved chemistry between Metcalf and Rodgers can lead to an even more productive campaign that will help this team break its decade-long playoff win drought in what Rodgers has said will be his final NFL season. That push begins Sunday with a 1 p.m. ET home game against Tua Tagovailoa and the Atlanta Falcons.