Ex-Steelers WR Sent Home Due To ‘Private Matter,’ Out Week 7

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced on Friday that Ray-Ray McCloud was sent home due to a “private matter”, and the wide receiver has been ruled out for Week 7 vs. the San Francisco 49ers.

“I sent him home,” Morris said, according to a report by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “Excused absence — home. Working through some things right now that are private with my young man, and we’ll figure those things out as we go.”

McCloud — who spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers — was an “unexpected” healthy scratch ahead of Atlanta’s Week 6 “Monday Night Football” victory against the Buffalo Bills, per Raimondi’s report.

The insider noted that the Clemson product was at Wednesday’s practice but sat out Thursday’s and Friday’s sessions due to what the Falcons said was non-injury-related reasons.

Raimondi added that Atlanta fired wideouts coach Ike Hilliard after the team’s 30-0 blowout defeat vs. the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, a decision that drew reaction from McCloud.

The 29-year-old pass-catcher and Hilliard are “close,” according to the ESPN scribe.

McCloud said that the 49-year-old was the best coach he’s ever had and the NFL “has no loyalty,” per the report.

Morris said on Friday that Hilliard’s firing had nothing to do with McCloud’s current situation.

“This is between Ray-Ray, the organization and us and dealing with those things,” the head coach said. “Nothing to do with that.”

The 2018 draft pick had 59 catches for 354 receiving yards with the Steelers across 32 regular season games. McCloud also led the NFL in punt returns (38) and punt return yardage (367) during the 2021 campaign.

More NFL: Former Steelers Star Shreds Defense After Shootout Loss To Bengals