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 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 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.
- And in stepped Yahya Black, the Steelers 5th round pick out of Iowa.
Steelers lineman and commentator Trai Essex paid homage to Max Starks, but Starks drew further back to Dwight White.
Most dominant performance of the night! Dwight “Mad Dog” White is smiling down knowing that the number he donned has returned to defensive side of the ball! https://t.co/5umJLbsawY
— Max Starks IV (@maxstarks78) August 22, 2025
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.
