Tag Archives: Troy Fautanu

5 Quick Takes on the Steelers Initial 2026 53-Man Roster

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It took 2 trades, cuts of four experienced veterans, 1 surprise injured reserve designation and an unorthodox quarterback decision, but Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy have assembled the Pittsburgh Steelers initial 53 man roster for the 2026 season.

Here are 5 quick takes on their roster decisions which come after a look at the initial roster in its entirety.

Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar at Steelers OTAs in the spring of 2026

Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar at Steelers OTAs. Photo Credit: Alysa Rubin, Steelers.com

The Initial Pittsburgh Steelers 53 Man Roster

Quarterbacks (4)

Aaron Rodgers
Mason Rudolph
Will Howard
Drew Allar

Running Backs (4)

Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle
Eli Heidenreich, Running Back/Wide Receiver
Riley Nowakowski, Fullback

Offensive Line (9)

Troy Fautanu
Mason McCormick
Zach Frazier
Spencer Anderson
Dylan Cook
Max Iheanachor
Gennings Dunker
Brock Hoffman
Ryan McCollum

Tight Ends (3)

Pat Freiermuth
Darnell Washington
Robert Tonyan

Wide Receivers (6)

D.K. Metcalf
Michael Pittman Jr
Roman Wilson
Germie Bernard
Ben Skowronek
Kaden Wetjen

Defensive Line (7)

Cam Heyward
Keeanu Benton
Derrick Harmon
Yahya Black
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Gabriel Rubio
Kevin Jobity Jr.

Linebackers (8)

T.J. Watt
Alex Highsmith
Patrick Queen
Payton Wilson
Nick Herbig
Jack Sawyer
Carson Bruener
Cole Holcomb

Cornerbacks (5)

Jalen Ramsey
Joey Porter Jr.
Jamel Dean
Asante Samuel Jr.
Brandin Echols
Daylen Everette

Safeties (3)

Jaquan Brisker
Robert Spears-Jennings
Rayshawn Jenkins

Specialists (3)

Chris Boswell, kicker
Cameron Johnston, punter
Christian Kuntz, long snapper

Injured Reserve Designated Return

DeShon Elliott, safety
Jack Driscoll, offensive line

1. Take Mike McCarthy at His Word on 4 Quarterbacks

When Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar were the only 3 quarterbacks during OTA’s Mike McCarthy affirmed that “4 quarterbacks would be awesome.” He meant it. For the third time in 21 years, the Steelers are keeping 4 quarterbacks on their initial roster. In 1995 they did it from a position of strength, in 1999 they did it from a position of weakness.

This time it is somewhere in between, but given the dynamics of the room, McCarthy is making the right move by keeping 4 quarterbacks.

2. There’s No Numbers in Safety

The most concerning personnel move the Steelers made was to put DeShaun Elliott on the injured reserve list. Sebastian Castro got cut while Donte Kent is on the PUP list.

That leaves the Steelers with 3 safeties, one of whom is a 7th round pick and another 9-year veteran on his 6th team.

Mike McCarthy has talked about using Jalen Ramsey as a Charles Woodson like chess-piece. I suspect he’ll start 2026 the way he finished 2025 – working as a strong safety.

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents in the summer of 2025.

Jalen Ramsey and DeShone Elliott at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images, via SI.com.

3. Steelers Lean into the “Fail Fast” Principle

The first major move that Omar Khan and McCarthy made was to deal 2023’s first round pick Broderick Jones off to Dallas, after just 3 seasons with the Steelers. The duo didn’t stop there, shipping off 2025’s 3rd round pick Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay for a 6th round pick.

During the spring McCarthy promised Johnson a clean slate moving in 2026. And he clearly got a long-look early in training camp.

But he fell out of favor with the coaches and will now follow his NFL dream with the Packers. Clearly neither Omar Khan nor Mike McCarthy are allowing sentimentally to cloud their decisions.

Kaleb Johnson heads for the open field in the Steelers August 2026 preseason loss to the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium.

Kaleb Johnson almost breaks won. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

4. Youth Over Experience

The entire Steelers 2026 draft class has made the final roster. Some of these guys could be headed to IR if veterans are re-signed and this may not be a first, but it is a rare occurrence.

  • Much has been made about the age of the Steelers roster.

And while the average age of the Steelers roster is a bit skewed by the presence of Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward, Mike McCarthy and his staff clearly opted for youth over experience.

Veterans such as Dean Lowry, Elandon Roberts, Malik Harrison, Travis Homer and Esezi Otomewo all got visits from The Turk.

Some of these players could be back either in the next few days or after the opener, but McCarthy clearly isn’t beholden to something that a player has done for the team or done in the league in the past, but instead is focused on what he believes players can do in the future.

5. The Ball is in Porter’s Court

The Steelers also had to decide to activate Joey Porter Jr. from the PuP list or keep him there for the first 4 games of the season. The Steelers activated him.

  • In doing so, they put the ball in Porter’s court.

The Steelers would like to extend Porter’s contract, and Porter purportedly wants to stay in Pittsburgh. But the two sides can’t agree on a number.

  • Mike McCarthy, unlike Mike Tomlin, doesn’t seem to have much use for “hold ins.”

Word is the Steelers want Porter to participate in practice before engaging in serious contract negotiations. Now that he’s off the PuP list he has to decide whether he’ll do that or not.

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No More Keeping Up with The Joneses: Steelers Trade Broderick Jones to Dallas Cowboys

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys, making their first critical roster decision with the NFL’s final 53 man roster cut down deadline looms.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the  Steelers are sending Jones along with their 2027 4th round pick to Dallas, and getting the Cowboys’ 2027 3rd and 6th round picks.

Broderick Jones

Broderick Jones decked out in color rush. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Broderick Jones was the first, first-round draft pick of the Omar Khan Andy Weidl era, whom Khan traded up for in the 2023 NFL Draft. When the Steelers drafted Jones, the decision was almost universally praised.

Writing in Steel City Insider, analyst Matt C. Steel lauded the class of 2023 as a “near-perfect draft.” He praised Jones for his “athleticism and physicality [that] are unique.” Steel further explained his enthusiasm for Jones:

Jones might struggle with pass protection early; however, with his strength and movement skills Jones’ impact on the run game should be significant. Couple that with the knowledge that [Christian] Gonzalez’s interviews were said to be uninspiring, moving up to get Jones was the best choice the Steelers could have made with their draft position.

Talk about a draft analyst being prophetic. The Steelers drafted Jones on measurables rather than experience, as Jones had not been a long-term starter in college and was seen as somewhat of a project.

While the Steelers didn’t start Jones on opening day 2023, he did crack the starting lineup in the middle of the season against Tennessee after Chukwuma Okorafor got benched. And with that move the Steelers running game finally began getting some traction.

  • However, Jones’ “sophomore” year was shaky at best.

As Steel predicted, he struggled in pass blocking and the Steelers running game got a slow start – although that was a trademark of Pat Meyer’s offensive lines. Left tackle had always been seen as Jones’ natural position and he played on the right during the Steelers 2024 season, in large part because Dan Moore could not make the switch from left tackle to right tackle.

The hope was that by shifting Jones would begin to fully realize his potential during the Steelers 2025 season. Nonetheless, outside of Pittsburgh Jim Wexell reported from the 2025 NFL scouting combine that Jones was perceived as a “coach killer.”

  • The reality is that results were mixed.

While Broderick Jones might not have been an early-season outright liability at left tackle, the Steelers pass protection left a lot to be desired.

Arthur Smith needed to tailor play calling sequences to ensure Aaron Rodgers got rid of the ball quickly. Smith also generously used his “Jumbo Package” bringing in reserve offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a tight end.

Still, while no one would confuse him with a modern-day John Jackson or Marvel Smith, Jones did seem to improve as the season wore on. Unfortunately, he suffered a neck stinger in the Steelers loss to Chicago, ending his season.

  • Word was the Steelers would have issued Jones a 5th year tender had it not been for his neck injury.

Not only did they not do that, but they used their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. With 2024’s first round pick Troy Fautanu already on the team, Jones’ days with the Steelers appeared to be limited.

  • The expectation was that he would begin training camp and the season on the PUP list.

Surprisingly, Jones was active through training camp, and got extensive work in all three of the Steelers 2026 preseason contests.

And that sealed his fate with the team, as Jones struggled in pass protection in all three contests, most notably getting beaten badly in the 4th quarter in the shutout loss to the Jets.

Although the Steelers deemed Jones physically fit to participate and play in camp, he was visibly smaller following his injury. So, there’s certainly a chance that his recovery can continue and that he can salvage something of his career.

But he won’t be doing it in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, and Omar Khan has likely recouped more value with this trade than he could have hoped to get as a compensatory pick had he kept Jones in the Steel City.

Khan Continues to Embrace the “Fail Fast” Principle

Dispatching Jones to Dallas marks the second time that Omar Khan has dealt away a first-round draft pick who is playing on a rookie contract. The first time came when he sent Kenny Pickett down the Turnpike in 2024.

  • Clearly, Khan is not averse to embracing the “Fail Fast” principle.

Although Jones clearly qualifies as a disappointment, the Steelers 2023 Draft Class is shaping up to be a strong group. Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and Keeanu Benton have already signed second contracts with Joey Porter Jr., hopefully, soon to get his. Spencer Anderson will also begin the year as a starter.

 

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5 (Not So) Random Takes from the Steelers 28-9 Preseason Win Over the Packers

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Mike McCarthy’s Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers 28-9 to open their 2026 preseason campaign on a hot and steamy night at Acrisure Stadium.

The win gave fans their long-awaited look at quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar as well as wide receivers Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen along with cornerback Daylen Everette.

  • After watching a game chocked full of ESPN-worthy highlights, what are hard takeaways?

How about Mike McCarthy now has one more thing in common with Mike Tomlin than he does with Bill Cowher or Chuck Noll because McCarthy, like Tomlin, won his preseason debut whereas Cowher and Noll lost theirs….

Now that you’re prepared for a “Steelers Preseason” Final Jeopardy, let’s acknowledge that injuries are about the only hard truths that come out of the first preseason game of the summer. And fortunately the Steelers appeared to emerge relatively clean on that front.

But it was an exciting win, and it did leave commentators with a lot to comment on. So let’s comment.

Mason Rudolph evades Warren Brinson in the Steelers 2026 preseason opener vs the Packers.

Who doesn’t like a quarterback who knocks the helmet off of a defender? Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune Review.

1. Front and Center Focus Gives Us a Mixed Bag

The most important thing for the Steelers to get right this summer is to solidify their offensive line and strengthen their defensive spine.

  • The Packers game gave them their first test and results were mixed.

Pass protection was erratic. Mason Rudolph was only in for a handful of series and he was still sacked twice. Both Dylan Cook and Troy Fautanu got beat in critical snaps. The Steelers also averaged 2.6 yards on the ground, so the offensive line wasn’t exactly road-grading either.

Still, with that understood, the offensive line did give Rudolph enough protection to complete 10 of 11 passes and march the team to the one yard line.

On the flip side, the Steelers defense had a strong night overall, keeping the Packers out of the end zone for the entire game. Although Keeanu Benton got the start at nose tackle, both Yahya Black and Gabriel Rubio saw extended time and both men looked good, with Rubio logging six tackles.

2. Rudolph, Howard, Allar and the Quarterback Derby

Both Will Howard and Drew Allar made their NFL debuts and both men played very well.

Howard impressively ran the two-minute drill to set up Lew Nichols touchdown just before the end of the first half. Allar relieved him at the end of the third quarter, throwing two touchdown passes while running one in on his own.

Allar went 10 of 13 for 2 TDs and 163 yards with no sacks, while Howard went 10 of 11 for 93 yards and one sack. That’s about as good as anyone could have hoped for or expected.

But if you were to judge their performance by reactions on social media, you’d think the Steelers suddenly had a Joe Montana-Steve Young situation on their hands. OK, perhaps that exaggerates things slightly, but it is amazing to see the number of people who are ready to cut Mason Rudolph after watching Howard and Allar.

Yes, both Howard and Allar looked good, but they did most of their work playing against guys who, in a month’s time, will count themselves lucky if they land a tryout with the Brooklyn Pharaohs.

In contrast, the vast majority of the men Mason Rudolph played against will make the Packers’ opening day roster, and many will start. What really stuck out about Rudolph was his poise.

He didn’t have great pass protection, and Travis Homer wasn’t exactly “pounding the rock.” Yet he remained in command of the offense at all times to the point where his best pass of the night was officially an incomplete one:

Yes, we can and should be pleased to see Howard and Allar get off to good starts. But if Aaron Rodgers should become unavailable, this is the kind of quarterback I want taking his place.

3. Reclamation ROI in Real Time?

The Steelers defense put up a lot of stats, and several players made eye-catching plays. But the one man who really stood out was cornerback Asante Samuel Jr..

When Joey Porter Jr.’s hold-in began, someone on social media speculated that he might be in the process of Wally Pipping himself. That’s a bit extreme. But Asante Samuel Jr. played extremely well, and at this point looks to be a real asset in the secondary.

Rookie safety and 7th round draft pick Robert Spears-Jennings also looked good.

4. Wetjen Strikes Just When You Least Expect It

The only real eyebrow raising choice in the Steelers 2026 draft class was using a fourth-rounder on Kaden Wetjen. The Steelers drafted him as a kick returner, as he had a total of 13 catches in his college career.

And throughout training camp wise scribes such as Jim Wexell and Roy Countryman have been telling us that Wetjen’s been looking extremely sharp as a return man, but didn’t figure to be a factor in the passing game.

Against the Packers, Wetjen got to return 3 kicks and 2 punts and, while he didn’t do anything to look bad, he also did nothing special. No sooner did that thought occur to me than Drew Allar found him on this slant route:

  • Quite impressive, even if a stumble cost him a touchdown.

Yet, Allar found him later in the end zone, and the evening ended with Wetjen leading the Steelers in receiving yards and catching a touchdown.

Kaden Wetjet catches a touchdown from Drew Allar during the Steelers 2026 preseason win over the Packers

Kaden Wetjet catches a Drew Allar touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The odds favor Wetjet’s 79-yard streaking reception to be more of a Matthew Thomas type play (name ring a bell but can’t quite place this one? Then click here) than Franco Harris taking it to the house in his preseason debut, but he did show us that we shouldn’t sleep on him being a part of the wide receiving room.

5. A Word About the Offense

The Steelers offense scored four touchdowns, had 17 first downs, converted 7 of 13 third downs and had a slight edge in time of possession. The numbers alone, of course, in a preseason game tell us next to nothing.

  • But the unit passed “the eye test.”

In the heyday of Kenny Pickett’s preseason glory days the Steelers offense put together some nice drives, but they had a video game feel too them dissipated immediately once the games counted for real.

In the booth during the game Art Rooney II described Mike McCarthy as “meticulous” and this is how his offense felt. Even when you control for the quality of competition, the Steelers offense played like a unit that knew what it wanted to do, and was going out and doing it. And the maintained that same “look and feel” with three separate quarterbacks.

Finally, seeing rookie fullback Riley Nowakowski lining up in a Power-I Formation early in the game? That was a true cherry on top.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is only preseason. Let’s keep it real. But it’s far better to look good than to look bad.

 

 

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Steelers-Packers Preseason Priorities: Focus on the Offensive Line and Defensive Spine

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When the Steelers begin their 2026 preseason campaign at Acrisure Stadium tonight against the Packers, all eyes will be on the two extremes of the offense, with the focus on answering two questions:

Mike McCarthy and his staff must gain clarity on both questions during preseason.

Finding out whether Howard and/or Allar has legit long-term potential as a starting quarterback is essential. And if the Steelers 2024 and 2025 seasons taught us anything, it is that a varsity offense requires varsity wide receivers.

Keeanu Benton, Steelers vs Packers

Kennau Benton tackles Aaron Jones. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

But if you really want to understand what will define the Steelers’ ability to not only reach but compete in the playoffs this year, you should keep your focus on the front and center.

  • The “front” being the offensive line, and the “center” being the middle of the defense.

To understand why, let’s look back the Steelers playoff debacle against the Texans and then peer further back into the bowels of Pittsburgh’s famed 3-4 defense.

The Offensive Line’s Eyesore Performance vs. the Texans

Watching the Steelers-Texans game in the cold at outside of Hibernia Bar in Manhattan, my gut reaction was simple:

  • This offensive line just isn’t ready.

The game reminded me of the 2014 playoff loss to the Ravens at Heinz Field. During the 2014 regular season Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin’s commitment to rebuilding the offensive line, after years of “plug and patch,” began to pay dividends.

That year, under Mike Munchak’s tutelage, the offensive line had transformed itself into an asset. But in the playoffs, the Ravens defense revealed that Pittsburgh’s offensive line still needed to mature more.

And so it was in 2025.

The Steelers line started the season a little shaky, and while they never dominated, they clearly improved as the year progressed. But in the playoffs they withered under the Texans’ pass rush, showing that more maturity was needed.

  • With the unit returning four out of five starters everyone expects improvement. But there’s a “but.”

Of the four returning starters, only Zach Frazier will play in the same spot. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick will move to the left side, Dylan Cook will move to the right and Spencer Anderson, who played primarily on the left, also moves to the right.

Steelers reserve center Ryan McCollum with Aaron Rodgers during the Steelers 2025 win over the Colts.

Ryan McCollum and Aaron Rodgers. Photo Credit: Ed Thompson, SteelersNow

That may not be the opening-day lineup, particularly with Broderick Jones back in the mix, but the coaching staff has established a clear pecking order.

Mike McCarthy, Brian Angelichio and James Campen have enthusiastically moved around the pieces. While nothing about the performance against the Texans screamed, “This isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” moving so many players into new positions still carries a bit of risk.

  • But it also carries potential upside.

My friend and Steel City Insider analyst Matt C. Steel has written extensively about the disservice that NFL coaches can do by moving offensive linemen away from their natural positions, pointing to neuroscience and citing Kevin Dotson as an example, who is playing much better at right guard in Los Angeles than he played on the left in Pittsburgh. (It should be noted that Alan Faneca switched sides in the pros, and his a Hall of Famer.)

But if reshuffling the offensive line deck is what allows the unit to take the next step forward, this decision will pay dividends both this season and beyond. Tonight against the Packers we’ll get our first taste of what’s to come.|

Steelers Piss-Poor Run Defense Hiding in Plain Sight

The ugly nature of the 30-6 home playoff loss to the Texans made it easy to forget an interesting factoid: the Steelers were still within one point early in the 4th quarter until Houston hustled the game away with two defensive scores.

The Steelers defense kept the team in the game while their offense didn’t look like it belonged on the field.

  • But there’s an unpleasant surprise hiding in the stat sheet.

Yes, the Steelers defense earned their stripes, keeping Pittsburgh in the game with turnovers by Brandin Echols, T.J. Watt, and Yahya Black. Sacks by Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton and Jack Sawyer made C.J. Stroud look lost.

  • But one player who found a groove was rookie Texas running back Woody Marks.

Marks ran for 112 yards – his previous best had been 69 yards. Nick Chubb added another 48 yards on 10 carries.

This is important, because Mike McCarthy made no bones about sticking with the 3-4 upon his return to Pittsburgh.

And to understand how alarming those run defense stats are, we need to go back to something former defensive coordinator Tim Lewis once told Jim Wexell: The strength of the Steelers 3-4 defense runs through its spine.

To visualize that, simply remember the days of Casey Hampton, James Farrior and Troy Polamalu and the (6) Super Bowl rings they own.

And the Steelers have questions to answer across the spine of their defense.

  • Can Benton, in a new system, show he’s a true run-stopping nose tackle?
  • If not, is Yahya Black that man, or perhaps even Gabriel Rubio?
  • Are Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson strong enough to man the middle?
  • And who will emerge at safety?

This last question is perhaps the most critical, because Omar Khan has already made several moves at safety.

After watching Kenny Pickett and Company look All World just three Augusts ago, Steelers fans need no reminder that preseason can be deceiving.

But preseason can still offer decent looks at individual position groups. And against the Packers, my focus will be on the spine of the Steelers defense.

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Grading the Steelers 2021 Draft Five Years Later: Why Pittsburgh’s Playoff Drought Deepened

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The picks are in and we’re in the thick of OTAs. Now it’s time to grade the Steelers draft class.

The Steelers 2021 Draft Class.

Yes, 5 years is a long time to wait to grade a draft class, but if a 5-year wait was right for Chuck Noll, then it’s right for me.

The Steelers 2021 Draft Class was Kevin Colbert’s penultimate one and while this draft wasn’t as bad as some of ones that sandwiched it, that isn’t entirely a good thing. Let’s dive into why.

Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris, Steelers vs Bears

Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris represent the yin and yang of the Steelers 2021 Draft Class. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Round 1 Najee Harris – Another Rookie Tease

Critics condemned Colbert and Mike Tomlin for “Wasting a first rounder on a running back” as soon they drafted Najee Harris.

After holding his draft party at a Bay Area homeless shelter, his rookie season suggested Harris could prove the critics wrong. And then some.

Harris played his rookie year behind an offensive line built with spit, duct tape and bubble gum, yet he still rushed for 1200 yards, scored 7 touchdowns and caught 74 passes for 467 yards.

  • Unfortunately, he failed to build on his rookie success.

Yes, he played well in fits and spurts. Yet at other times he subjected us to “Sludge Ball,” resulting in 3rd and longs which the offense couldn’t convert.

Najee Harris, Steelers vs Chargers

Najee Harris breaks one in the 4th quarter. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

That inconsistency makes it easy to forget his 4 consecutive 1000 yard seasons, his additional 1000 yards receiving, 34 touchdowns and 68 consecutive starts. Those numbers show that the Steelers did get some value out of Najee Harris even if his overall draft grade is Disappointment.

steelers, draft, grades, evaluations, bust, Kevin Colbert

True NFL Draft grades only come with years of hindsight

Round 2 Pat Freiermuth – Muuth!

If Najee Harris spent his rookie season teasing that he might live up to his first-round status, Steelers fans watched 2nd round pick Pat Freiermuth during his rookie year and asked if he might be the next Heath Miller.

Pat Freiermuth, Jordan Battle, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Pat Freiermuth stiff arms Jordan Battle en route to the end zone. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Truthfully, Pat Freiermuth hasn’t and will likely never reach that level. Instead, at a time when the Steelers have fielded some outright JV offenses, Freiermuth has always been a consistent Varsity player. Grade: Over Performer

Round 3 Kendrick Green – It Isn’t Easy Being Green

Anyone who ever needs a reminder of why you never want to enter an NFL draft with an absolute need to pick a starter, look no further than Kendrick Green.

Thanks to Maurkice Pouncey’s surprise retirement while the Steelers were in Salary Cap Armageddon the Steelers were forced to draft a starting center in the 2021 NFL draft. So they drafted Kendrick Green.

Kendrick Green struggled until Mike Tomlin benched him for J.C. Hassenauer in week 16. Green made the roster in 2022, but never earned a game day helmet.

The Steelers gave him some work at fullback at St. Vincents in the summer of 2023. But he couldn’t do enough to prove he needed a roster spot, so they traded Green to the Houston Texans where he’s started four games. Grade: Bust

Round 4 Dan Moore – More Than Expected

The Steelers didn’t only need to draft a starting-capable center in the 2021 NFL Draft, they also needed a tackle. So they drafted Dan Moore Jr. in the 4th round. Dan Moore won the left tackle starting job in training camp, and then proceeded to start all but one game for the next four years.

  • Moore suffered growing pains, and could never make the shift to playing right tackle.

But he improved with each passing year, although not enough to deter the Steelers from drafting Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu. But drafting an offensive tackle in the 4th round who becomes an immediate starter and then proceeds to start 66 games is an outstanding success by any measure. Grade: Over Performer

Round 4: Buddy Johnson — The 4th Round Throw Away

As a non-draftnic all Steelers draft picks start with a clean slate. I do listen to experts, but take their wisdom with a grain of salt. Still, the eye rolls that accompanied Buddy Johnson’s pick perked up my ears.

  • And it didn’t take long to understand the eye rolls.

Buddy Johnson appeared in 4 games for the Steelers as a rookie, played 6 defensive snaps and 59 special teams snaps. The Steelers cut him the next summer. So fellow 4th rounder Dan Moore made 66 starts whereas Buddy Johnson played 65 total snaps. Grade: Bust

Round 5: Isaiahh Loudermilk – The Rookie Tease

With no 5th round pick, the Steelers traded their 2022 4th rounder to grab Isaiahh Loudermilk. The Steelers drafted Isaiahh Loudermilk counting on having both Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu.

  • Tuitt never played a down and Alualu was lost after just 6 quarters.

Thanks to those injuries, Loudermilk got playing time immediately. And in hindsight, it is easy to forget that Loudermilk actually had a fairly promising rookie year, batting down 3 passes, and recording a sack while playing 29% of the defensive snaps.

  • But like Najee Harris, Loudermilk failed to build on his rookie year.

He averaged about 19% of the defensive snaps over the next three years, and his career highlight was blocking a field goal in the 2024 Sunday Night Football loss to Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys. The Steelers brought him back for a 5th year, but he got injured after two games. Grade: Disappointment

Round 6: Quincy Roche – The Preseason Flasher

Quincy Roche started the summer off at St. Vincents strong enough for Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell to include him in a group of rookies who were “are rounding out another exceptional draft.”

By summer’s end, the Steelers coaches didn’t quite agree, as they cut Quincy Roche hoping to sneak him on the practice squad.

The New York Giants signed him, and Roche appeared in 14 games, made 3 starts, recording 2.5 sacks.

Alas, he spent his second year bouncing on and off New York’s practice squad and was cut loose in January. The Steelers brought him back to Pittsburgh, but his highlight was getting pancaked during Friday Night Lights by “fullback” Kendrick Green. He got cut 25 days later. Grade: Bust

Round 7a – Tre Norwood – Short-Term Swiss Army Knife

Officially the Steelers drafted Tre Norwood as a safety, but Mike Tomlin immediately labeled him a “Swiss Army Knife” indicating that he’d play both safety and corner. Tre Norwood saw action in all 17 games as a rookie, logging a full third of the defensive snaps.

Tre Norwood tops off Ben Roethlisberger's final game at Heinz Field by intercepting Baker Mayfield's pass after Minkah Fitzpatrick tipped it his way.

Tre Norwood intercepts a Baker Mayfield pass at the end of Ben Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field. Photo Credit: Caitlyn Epee, Steelers.com

While no one was suggesting a name change to Donnie Polamalu or Troy Shell the early returns were good, with Norwood deflecting four passes and hauling in an interception to secure Ben Roethlisberger’s final win at Heinz Field.

Like other members of the Steelers 2021 Draft class, Norwood never sustained his rookie momentum, and was gone after 2022. Grade: Serviceable Pickup

Round 7b:  Pressley Harvin III — Mr. Inconsistency

The Steelers used their final pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Pressley Harvin III, a punter out of Georgia Tech, hoping to find a long-term upgrade at the position. Pressley Harvin punted for 3 seasons, was good at times, but he lacked consistency and was gone after 2023. Grade: Disappointment.

Steelers 2021 Draft Class Helps Explain, Extend Playoff Drought

When the 2021 Steelers unexpectedly made the playoffs, Jim Wexell’s initial assessment of “another exceptional draft” looked smart. Everyone, except Kendrick Green and Buddy Johnson had shown concrete reasons for hope – as had Roche with the Giants.

  • Sadly, only Pat Freiermuth and Dan Moore built on their rookie success.

The others did enough to hang on as backups, or even starters, but none developed into anything exceptional. In many ways, his draft class was similar to the Steelers 2018 Draft Class, which set the seeds for stagnation.

For its part, the Steelers 2021 Draft Class deepened the roots of the franchise’s current playoff drought by adding players who, with the exception of Freiermuth, never developed into differnece-makers and who instead excelled at being ordinary. Overall grade: C.

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Like It or Not: Steelers Draft Max Iheanachor, OT in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft

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In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, addressing a top-three need at the position but surprising many who expected Pittsburgh to prioritize wide receiver.

In announcing the pick, General Manager Omar Khan confirmed that he spoke with Steelers legend and current Arizona State assistant coach Hines Ward, who said, “He was so excited, so fired up for Max and for us, and says he’s a steal.”

Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor blocks BYU's defensive end Isaiah Bagnah

Steelers 2026 first round pick Max Iheanachor blocks BYU’s Isaiah Bagnah. Photo Credit: Ross D. Franklin, AP, via PennLive.com

This is how Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy explained the team’s interest in Iheanachor:

…when you watch linemen play, you want to see them strike and stick, and with that the balance and the footwork. His ability to stay alive on second and third reaction when he does engage, I think it’s all over the video.

Max Iheanachor was born in Nigeria and emigrated to the United States at age 13. He has a soccer background, which he credits for his strong footwork. Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell described him as “a sponge in learning the game,” and Iheanachor himself said, “Man, I’m ready to learn. Whatever it is, I’m willing to do for the team, help this team win.”

The Steelers plan to start Iheanachor at right tackle. However, both Khan and McCarthy stressed the importance of position flexibility.

However, Jones is returning from injury and his status is uncertain for the coming year, while Dylan Cook has been a career practice squad player, although he performed well last season in relief.

The 2026 Steelers Draft Needs Matrix rated tackle as the team’s third most urgent need, but the franchise clearly hoped to add a wide receiver early.

The Steelers were on the phone with USC’s Makai Lemon at the 20th pick, but the Philadelphia Eagles jumped ahead of them in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.

“It’s just the draft,” Omar Khan explained, and in that spirit, the Steelers stuck to their board.

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

Max Iheanachor Video Highlights

Max Iheanachor played his entire college career at Arizona State, a bit of a rarity in this age of the transfer portal, and appeared in 32 games over the last three years, including 14 in 2025 and 12 in 2026.

Here is a look at his body of work:

Ineanachor stands at 6’6” and weighs in at 3.21 pounds, but moves nimbly for a man his size. He ran a 4.93 in the 40. For comparisons sake, Broderick Jones ran a 4.97 in the 40 and Troy Fautanu ran a 5.01.

Those may not sound like big differences, and they are not big differences, but a little extra speed make all the difference for a tackle who has to pivot to pick up an unexpected blitzer heading Aaron Rodgers’ way.

 Steelers First Round Pick of Max Iheanachor Draws Mixed Reviews – at Best…

The Steelers’ decision to draft Max Iheanachor drew mixed reactions, with some analysts praising his upside and fit in the trenches while others questioned passing on wide receiver.

The move was a surprise as Pittsburgh appeared primed to draft a play-making wide receiver and walked away with their third first round offensive tackle in four drafts of the Khan-Wedil era.

  • The move has drawn mixed reviews.

Going into the draft Roy Countryman proprietor of Big Country Scouting and a writer for Steel City Insider had Max Iheanachor on his second round value board.

Steel City Insider’s Matt C. Steel had Max Iheanachor rated as 11th on his draft preference order for the Steelers, projecting him to go between 21 and 15 pick. Steel observed, “Highest ceiling, raw but productive. Could he play guard for a year?”

On X, former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex declared, “Good Solid Pick.  Foundational.  With what we are hearing about Broderick, it makes the most sense.  Not sexy.  But important.”

  • Others are less charitable — to say the least.

Alan Saunders of SteelersNow condemned the Steelers of “Failing Three Times with the same first round pick.”

Long time Steelers blogger Neal Coolong described the pick as “Unserious” and explained on X, “Prepare for Terrell Edmunds.” – me on a group thread one second after Lemon went to the Eagles at 20.” Terrell Edmunds was the Steelers first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and at the time was an unexpected grab who proved to the NFL equivalent of an optical illusion.

Welcome to Steelers Nation Max Iheanachor

As the antithesis of a draftnic, I won’t pretend to offer any instant assessment of how good or bad Max Iheanachor’s NFL future will be.

He could be a future Hall of Famer, and with injury questions about Jones and Cook’s long-term viability still unproven, this pick could still be more relevant to the Steelers immediate roster needs than most people think right now.

But that doesn’t alter the reality that the Steelers have continued to kick the can at wide receiver down the road for another round at least.

  • With that said, building in the trenches is seldom a bad thing in the NFL.

Joe Gibbs won 3 Super Bowls in the 80’s with three separate quarterbacks by building his offense on the foundation of a strong offensive line. Bill Parcells did something similar with the Giants and won two Super Bowls. And, for all the fanfare (rightly) generated by “The Triplets,” Jimmy Johnson did the same thing in the same division.,

  • Yes, the game has changed, but the philosophy remains sound.

Welcome to Steelers Nation Max Iheanachor.

 

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Steelers 2026 NFL Draft Needs at Offensive Tackle: Time to Keep Going Backwards?

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Judging by the logic of popular culture, the Pittsburgh Steelers have done things backwards in the NFL draft when it comes to offensive tackle. “Backwards? Haven’t didn’t they use consecutive first round picks on tackles?” you ask?

Well…, Offensive tackle might not hold a lot of sex appeal, but it is sexy enough to inspire a Hollywood movie. If we accept Leigh Anne Tuohy’s logic as handed down by Sandra Bullock in the opening monologue of The Blind Side, the first check an NFL team writes pays the mortgage, the second goes to the insurance.

  • The mortgage is of course, the quarterback and the insurance is offensive tackle.

Yet Omar Khan and Andy Weidl still haven’t made a mortgage payment in the NFL draft, but their first two first round draft picks brought offensive tackles to Pittsburgh.

Should the duo continue to take out insurance policies in the 2026 NFL Draft? Let’s have look.

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

The Steelers Offensive Tackle Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

Broderick Jones became the first pick of the Khan-Weidl era when the Steelers picked him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Although they traded up to get him, Jones was viewed as a bit of a project based on his limited experience starting at Georgia.

He did not crack the starting line up initially as a rookie, but he saw action in the debacle the Steelers suffered in Houston and made another start the following week in the upset over the Ravens at Acrisure.

Jones took over starting duties at right tackle when Mike Tomlin benched Chukwuma Okorafor in the Steelers Monday Night win over the Titans and, in some ways, the offense’s rebound began then.

Jones had a difficult summer in 2024 would have found himself behind both Dan Moore and Troy Fautanu, 2024’s first round pick. However, an injury cost Fautanu all but one game of his rookie year, so Jones continued to start at right tackle and struggled at times.

  • 2025 saw Jones move to left tackle, and the results were mixed.

Early in the season he had difficulties, and coaches openly schemed both to give him help and design plays that allowed Aaron Rodgers to get rid of the ball quickly.

Broderick Jones, Steelers vs Vikings, Steelers vs Vikings Dublin, Aaron Rogers, Isaac Seumalo

Broadrick Jones during the Steelers win in Dublin. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

However, the consensus is that Jones improved until an injury in the loss to the Bears cost him the rest of the season.

Jones’ injury was more serious than expected, and Omar Khan has indicated that the team cannot be sure that he’ll be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

As both hoped and expected, Troy Fautanu took over as the starter at right tackle in 2026 and played the entire year, as the right side of the Steelers lines began taking form as a team strength.

The Steelers Offensive Tackle Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups

Practice squad players are an interesting subset of NFL veterans. Oftentimes, they’re blips that you see come and go in a week or less. Sometimes you see come and go and return, on and off, over the course of a season, or several seasons.

And then there are the ones that reporters give shout outs to Q&A columns and on-line chats, reminding everyone to keep an eye on. Some of those players you never get to see. But others do make good on their shot at 15 minutes of fame, and Dylan Cook is one of those.

Cook signed with the Steelers and was on their practice squad in 2023, pegged by some as a “dark horse roster candidate.” He didn’t make the active roster in 2023, got injured in 2024 then was cut and resigned to the practice squad and then brought to camp in 2025.

Yet he didn’t make the final cut and had to come back for another stint on the practice squad, but got activated following Jones’ injury, and made his first start in the Steelers victory over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

That win was the turning point in transforming what looked like a disaster into another AFC North title.

Was it a coincidence? Well, probably yes, but the turnaround would not have happened at Cook proved unable to withstand the heat of the kitchen.

The Steelers also have Jack Driscoll who has 18 starts under his belt, and Spencer Anderson can play tackle as well, but he is currently a candidate to start a guard.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Offensive Tackle

Offensive Tackle should presents Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan with their most perplexing position challenge this off season. While Broderick Jones still has his critics, he did improve during the course the 2025 season. Well-sourced reporters have indicated that the team would likely have given him his 5th year rookie tender were it not for his neck injury.

And that’s the rub.

The Steelers aren’t even sure he’ll be ready to suit up by the time they arrive at St. Vincents. And while Steel Curtain Rising has no medical knowledge or specific insight into either situation, we’ll remind readers that a similar neck injury caused serious issues for Marvel Smith, ultimately forcing his retirement.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

Dylan Cook has been good in relief, but has he been good enough to count on as a season-long starter?

  • And even if he is, the Steelers still need a swing tackle.

The bottom line is that, unless the next Tony Boselli or Alan Faneca falls to them, the Steelers almost certainly won’t draft an offensive lineman in the first round.

But, depending on what they do with Spencer Anderson and their starting guard position, they almost certainly need to draft one with a premium pick because the Steelers need at offensive tackle going into the 2026 NFL Draft must be considered High.

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The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025

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September has arrived. Opening day against the Jets is days away. Once again, it’s time for Steel Curtain Rising’s annual, “The case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025” column

A few years go I stated this tradition as memorial to my friend, the late, great Ivan Cole. Ivan would publish these columns annually for Behind the Steel Curtain, in the site’s golden age, and later for Rebecca Rollett’s Going Deep with the Steelers.

In penning these columns, I not only try to follow Ivan’s form but also attempt to find his voice. This has given me and hopefully readers a chance to continue to commune with this great Steelers scribe.

Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt, Steelers St. Vincents

T.J. Watt rushes Aaron Rodgers at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images, via SI.com

Expectations: Keeping An Eventful Offseason in Context

As we dive in, let’s use Ivan’s own words to establish our level of expectation:

If you’re looking for yet another set of predictions in what is the season of predictions you will be sorely disappointed here. I don’t do predictions, don’t believe in them. I’m sure someone will hit the nail on the head as to how the [2025] season will unfold, and there will be a certain element of skill involved in their assessment, but there will probably be a lot of luck involved as well.
What I attempt to bring to the table are some observations as to how to think about what factors might be key to a positive outcome for the Steelers this season. Specifically, what has to happen (and what has to not happen) in order for the team to, hopefully, make it to the playoffs and have a shot at the world championship.

Any look forward at what’s come must be firmly grounded in and understanding of what has transpired in this eventful off season.

So let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: The ending to the Steelers 2024 season, which featured 5 straight losses where Pittsburgh got progressively worse left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.

7 months later it’s obvious that no one suffered the bitter taste of bile worse than Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan. To a man, they promised change. And they’ve delivered.

Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Steelers training camp, St. Vincents

The Steelers Brain Trust @ St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports, via Yahoo! Sports

Precise numbers will vary depending on which NFL personnel accounting method you choose, but when the Steelers take the field against the Jets you’ll see that they’ve replaced approximately half of their starters since last year. Deep deeper into the depth chart, and you’ll find even more new faces.

  • For some, these changes are already insufficient.

Ever since Ben Roethlisberger injured his elbow, a large contingent of both the fans and the press have called for “ripping off the Band-Aid” and rebuilding the franchise, from the roster to the coaching staff, from scratch. They’ll point to the franchise’s on-going playoff drought as self-evident justification.

To those naysayers I offer this simple factoid:

Since Chris Boswell booted the Steelers to their last victory on that frigid Kansas City night in the wanning days of the Obama administration, the Chicago Bears have drafted 3 quarterbacks in the first round – all of them taken in the top 11, employed 2 general managers and 5 head coaches and enjoyed one winning season.

More importantly, that “coveted” playoff win remains elusive for the Bears too.

Which team would you prefer to root for? I know my answer.

Rebooting on Offense

Quarterback unquestionably remains the most important position in football. Long gone are the days when we remember names like Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders without having an inkling as to who their quarterbacks were.

And in this regard the Steelers do deserve their share of criticism for their misfires during the post-Roethlisberger era. But South Side brain trust deserves credit that they’re seldom granted: Despite their errors, the Steelers have avoided squandering an excessive amounts of draft capital or salary cap space on the position.

Like many of you, I was not initially a fan seeing Rogers in Black and Gold. At all. But since he’s signed, he’s both said and done all the right things. We’ve all had cases where we’ve befriended someone who didn’t have the best reputation, and then explained, “…you know he’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

  • Thus far that seems to be the case for Steelers Nation and Aaron Rodgers.

The proof will come in what we see on the field. It is hard to say much about that now, given his absence in preseason, but at St. Vincents all indications are that Aaron Rodgers has something left in the tank.

Rudolph’s time in Pittsburgh has had more twists and turns, ups and downs than Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge. The fact that he was so willing to return I think speaks volumes not only to Rudolph’s character but also of the franchise’s.

We know that Rudolph is a capable number 2 who will respond if and when his name is called. Behind him we have newcomer Skylar Thompson. Everyone expected Thompson to be the odd man out when training camp started, but an injury to 6th round draft pick Will Howard opened the door.

And Thompson took advantage, as once again Mike Tomlin lived up to his credo that when you arrive in Pittsburgh its not about where you came from but what you do.

  • Quarterback isn’t the only skill position that saw Omar Khan aggressively renewed this off season.

At running back the Steelers wisely let Najee Harris walk, and have turned to Jaylen Warren who has shown himself to be a capable runner, a willing blocker and an under appreciated receiver.

Jaylen Warren, Marion Humphrey, Steelers vs Ravens

Jaylen Warren drags Marion Humphrey. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

He also added found Kaleb Johnson in 2025 NFL Draft, based on what we saw in preseason, he should boost the running back’s room, with Super Bowl veteran Kenneth Gainwell rounding out the group.

At wide receiver, the Steelers embraced addition by subtraction by trading talented but troubled George Pickens to Dallas, while replacing him with D.K. Metcalf. To be honest, the Steelers depth behind Metcalf does constitute a risk, particularly if they suffer a serious injury, but last year Calvin Austin proved he’s a legitimate NFL wide receiver, and Roman Wilson had a strong summer after a lost rookie year.

At tight end the Steelers bolstered the depth behind Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington with veteran Jonnu Smith with Swiss Army Knife Connor Heyward rounding out the quartet.

But the most exciting thing about this offense isn’t the individual talent that’s been added, but the potential of what it can do together. When he was Mike Vrabel‘s offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith was described by Steel City Insider scribe Matt C. Steel has running a “Bill Cowher style offense.”

  • The 2024 Steelers offense didn’t fit that mold, but it also didn’t have the talent.

But with draft picks Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones leading the way, don’t be surprised if the 2025 edition of the Steelers offense looks more like its 2005 ancestor than it does its immediate predecessor.

Daring to Be Different on Defense

Doubtlessly, the most disturbing aspect of the late-2025 collapse was the sight of a once-proud Steelers defense getting dominated. Patrick Mahomes humiliated  us through the air.  Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry imposed their will on the ground.

We all saw that coming in the wake of the ridiculing the Ravens inflicted in the, right?

Of course we didn’t. Nor, frankly, did we see it coming during the heat of free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft. But it still happened, proving that Mike Tomlin is, in fact, willing to leave no stone unturned.

  • And its obvious that he has no a sacred cows in his locker room.

Raise your hand if you watched Donte Jackson last season and wondered, “What was it that Carolina didn’t like about him?” Mine’s raised. But when he couldn’t sustain his early and mid-season fireworks down the stretch, he was deemed expendable.

The lesson is clear: Just being “Good enough” is not sufficient. Beanie Bishop is another player who flashed in 2024 but is learning that lesson in 2025.

In response to the need for more sheer bulk upfront, the Steelers have double-dipped on the defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black to Pittsburgh. Injuries will limit Harmon early, but Black’s preseason resume suggest that we may be able to count on him early than would normally be expected of a 5th round pick.

Yahya Black, Bryce Perkins, Steelers vs Panthers Preseason

Yahya Black sacks Bryce Perkins. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review

At outside linebacker the Steelers have future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt with Alex Highsmith bookending him on the other side. Behind them they have Nick Herbig who, with a strong third season could force a difficult decision next spring. Jack Sawyer arrives providing depth – and more bulk – to round out the quartet.

At inside linebacker, knock on wood, the Steelers finally appear to have a room that features 3 starter-capable players along with two quality backups. The Steelers last enjoyed this mix of quality and quality, experience and youth, in 2015 and 2016 – which were not uncoincidentally the last two seasons that included playoff wins.

Just Sayin….

The Future is Now. And Tomorrow

As detailed earlier on this site, watching the yin and yang of the discourse in Steelers Nation has been interesting to say the least. The conventional wisdom has swung from suggesting that the Steelers are executing a tank-lite strategy to declaring that the franchise is “All In.”

  • What’s exciting about 2025 is that neither of the two is true.

The Steelers, through deft use of the free agent market, drafting with an eye towards the long term and a duce of bold trades, have assembled a roster that is far better equipped to compete with the AFC titans like the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens.

But they’ve done so in a way that gives them ample salary cap space for heading into 2026 and a projected 11 or 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. We’re seeing “The Steelers Way” evolve in real time, and that should have everyone excited.

Bring on the New York Jets!

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5 Quickies on Sloppy Steelers 19-16 Preseason Win Over Panthers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers closed their 2025 preseason by beating the Carolina Panthers 19-16. The scoreboard doesn’t lie and Pittsburgh finished with more points that the Panthers.

  • But the effort hardly felt like a “victory” for the Steelers.

The leaves the question, what can or should we take from the efforts. Let’s take a look.

Yahya Black, Bryce Perkins, Steelers vs Panthers Preseason

Yahya Black sacks Bryce Perkins. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review

1. Tomlin Preseason 2.0 Under the Microscope

When preseason consisted of four games, Mike Tomlin’s MO was pretty standard:

  • Starters got a series (or two) in the first preseason game.
  • Starters got about a quarter in the second preseason game.
  • The third preseason game was the “dress rehearsal” with starters getting close to half
  • He reserved the fourth preseason game backups and roster bubble players

Since the preseason went to 3 games, Tomlin has more or less tried to squeeze that same formula into a 3 game cycle.

This year has  been different. Outside of Keeanu Benton, Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones, most starters sat out the Steelers preseason game against the Jaguars and the Buccaneers.

And it appeared that most of these starters might sit for the duration, but after Buccaneers game, Tomlin announced that most starters would play, with the exception of Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt (minus other players who were injured.)

  • The effort left a lot to be desired.

If there’s one word to describe the Steelers effort against the Panthers it is “Sloppy.”

Penalty flags flew early and often. Mason Rudolph threw and ugly interception. The running game, at least in the first half, still could not get going. In the first two games, defenders swarmed at ball carriers. The Panthers seemed to move the ball pretty well, even if they didn’t score.

The glass half full view here is that this is a chance for the starters to shake off a little rust. The glass half empty is that at this point in the summer, you’d hope and expect a crisper performance from your first-line players.

2. Are Worries about Warren’s Ball Security Warranted?

Jaylen Warren offers a perfect example. For 2 if not 3 years, both fans and the professional press have screamed for Warren to get carries instead of Najee Harris.

  • Warren touched the ball four times and fumbled once.

Warren is stand up guy. He’s so focused he doesn’t take his helmet off during games. The fact that he looked a little rusty isn’t cause for concern.

The fact that he fumbled is. Warren’s ball security issues are well known. It’s entirely possible that this is one of the reasons why he was unable to surpass Harris.

If he’s going to be a true RB No. 1 for the Steelers this year, he must take care of the ball.

3. Might It Be “Miller Time?”

Yancey Thigpen, Yancey Thigpen Terrible Towel, Steelers vs Browns

Yancey Thigpen twirls the Terrible Towel.

Last spring, when the Steelers were searching for the true WR No. 2 that never came, yours truly wondered whether Pittsburgh might have the next Yancey Thigpen hiding on their roster.

Yancey Thigpen of course went from being a special teams player who did some quality spot duty for the 1993 Steelers at wide receiver, to a true, legitimate Super Bowl caliber starting wide out for the 1994 Steelers.

Looking purely at his numbers, Scott Miller seemed like he might be that person in the spring of 2024. But, while he did do well in limited action, he was never anything but s spot-player last season.

He’s had an exceptionally strong camp, and led the team with 3 catches for 82 years. Clearly the kid has secured a roster spot. Now let’s see if he can translate that into something concrete when the games count.

4. Black is the New White?

The big news of the Panthers game was Derrick Harmon’s injury. Word is it is neither overly serious nor season-threatening. Still, you don’t want to see your first round pick go down, but every injury in the NFL creates an opportunity.

Steelers lineman and commentator Trai Essex paid homage to Max Starks, but Starks drew further back to Dwight White.

 

OK. Tributes to Dwight White are premature, but Black looked like a true ass kicker against the Panthers. If you have time, watching Chris Halicke’s video breakdown of Black’s performance.

While the DK on Pittsburgh Sports scribe is quick to point out that Black isn’t doing this against the Panther’s number 1s or even number 2s, his raw strength is on display as well as his technique. It’s a positive sign to see.

5. Is the Sky the Limit for Thompson?

If the Steelers have a preseason MVP, it is 4th string quarterback Skylar Thompson. When Omar Khan signed him in the spring the near universal reaction in Steelers Nation was, “Who?”

By all accounts, he’d been outplayed by Will Howard at St. Vincents, but Howard’s injury opened the door for Thompson to get reps. And he’s taken advantage.

In the 2015 preseason, Landry Jones got extensive worked, and parlayed a strong performance into a roster spot when many had expected him to be shown the door when the summer began. Jones went on to appear in 18 games and make 5 starts for the Steelers over the next three seasons.

  • Has Thompson done enough to force Will Howard to IR for the duration of the season?

Probably not. But assuming Thompson gets a visit from The Turk, he won’t stay unemployed for too long.

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6 Quick Takeaways as Steelers Lose 17-14 to Buccaneers in Preseason

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The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their preseason home opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the tune of 17-14, as a late Logan Woodside interception gave Tampa Bay the ball deep in Steelers territory, allowing them to kick a field goal as time expired.

The result itself tells us very little. The game yielded both good and bad takeaways for Steelers fans, and here are 6 of those plus a bonus program note.

Keeanu Benton, Steelers vs Buccaneers 2025 preseason

Keeanu Benton blocks a pass. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

1. Absence of Starters Self-Evident

Mike Tomlin opted to sit at least 20 players going into the game, including 13 who could be considered starters, including his top three skill players, Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf and Jaylen Warren.

ON the defensive side, T.J. Watt, DeShon Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter also sat.

We’ll only know if that’s a wise football decision if the Steelers can avoid sloppy play in early September, and succeed in dodging the injury bug by late December. But from a product marketing perspective, the product on the field clearly suffered.

Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher

Chuck Noll & Bill Cower after the last game at Three Rivers Stadium. Photo via 6th Ring.com

Not that the men who suited up were delivering sub-standard performances, but this game had the look and feel of a preseason contest – far cry from August of 1994 when a preseason contest between the Steelers and Raiders got so heated that Rod Woodson found himself ejected.

After the game the intensity had Bill Cowher telling Chuck Noll, “I don’t know what you started, but it seems like I’ve got to finish it.” (Or something close to that, this quote’s from memory.)

2. The Kids Are Alright

Collectively, the Steelers looked good in their preseason win over the Jaguars last week. But rookie running back Kaleb Johnson looked lost at times, and Derrick Harmon remained invisible on the stat sheet.

That had some commentators worried, but the take away here was “The Kids Will be Alright.”

  • And against the Buccaneers, they were.

Derrick Harmon drew several double-teams and overall appeared disruptive, and managed a sack Kyle Trask with a pure bull rush. Kaleb Johnson average 4.5 yards a carry on 11 runs including a long one of 14 yards. He also had a catch of 9 yards.

Moreover, Johnson looked sharp as a kick returner, averaging 27 yards a return with a long one of 34.

3. When in Rome, Do As the Romans?

Several members of the Steelers 2024 draft class had their rookie years ruined by injuries. Out of that group, perhaps no one was a bigger X factor than Roman Wilson. When asked about his wide receiver room following the George Pickens trade, Omar Khan expressed confidence in his 2025 group and rejected comparisons to the team’s situation at the same point in 2024.

  • He didn’t mention Roman Wilson by name, but he didn’t have to.

After a shaky start at St. Vincents, Wilson’s name became mentioned more prominently. He played well against the Jaguars, and made two impressive catches against the Buccaneers that totaled 72 yards.

  • Clearly, Roman Wilson is headed in the right direction.

But has he shown enough to make Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan going with Metcalf, Calvin Austin and Wilson as their top 3 wide outs. Even if Scott Miller and Brandon Johnson have looked good in preseason, the Steelers depth at wide out remains thin.

4. Run Blocking A Concern?

The good news is that, for the second straight week, Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu looked good in pass protection.

However, overall the Steelers run blocking, which has been a weakness in training camp, looked so-so at best against the Buccaneers. Yes, Lew Nichols and Evan Hull had long runs, but Kenneth Gainwell “started” and got nowhere in his two runs against Tampa’s number 1s.

Historically, preseason has been a pretty good barometer for performance of specific units. Indeed, in the summer of 1998 it seemed that the Steelers run blocking was slipping. When the regular season started, the unit did OK, particularly when Alan Faneca worked himself into the lineup, but things went south after injuries ended Justin Strzelczyk’s season and career.

5. Punt It Out

One of the few true position battles the Steelers have this summer is at punter. Both Corliss Waitman and Cameron Johnston leaned into the completion Saturday night.

Waitman averaged 58 yards on his punts, and although Johnston “only” average 42 yards, in did get two inside the 20. Danny Smith and Mike Tomlin don’t have an easy decision in front of them, but that’s a good problem to have.

6. Odds and Sods

Cole Holcomb had another outstanding night and appears to be back inform following his gruesome injury suffered in the middle of 2023. Keeanu Benton also deflected a pass and rebounded from a subpar game last week.

If all goes well, the Steelers won’t see Miles Killebrew lining up in the secondary this fall, but he also had a pass defensed. So did Beanie Bishop and Brandin Echols.

The Steelers depth at inside linebacker and in the secondary appears to be solid.

Bonus: Program Note on DAZN

For the second straight week I watched that ad-free replay of the game on DAZN, which owns NFL Game Pass international. And for the second straight week, edits not only eliminated commercials, but also key series.

Last week it was Max Hurlman’s catch and touchdown. This week it was Ben Sauls missed field goal.

I do realize that DAZN is headquartered in London, England and therefore some of their production team might not be well-versed in American football, but get it together guys.

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