Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers open the 2025 NFL common season on the New York Jets on Sept. 7 at MetLife Stadium.
For the second 12 months in a row, the Steelers can have a very totally different quarterback room than the season earlier than, however not like the earlier two seasons, there is not a debate round which a type of quarterbacks would be the starter. Aaron Rodgers is locked into that job, however one of many largest questions surrounding this offense revolves round who he'll be throwing to.
The Steelers once more opted to not add to the vast receiver room — a minimum of not but — by a coaching camp acquisition, however they've powerful personnel selections looming. Calvin Austin III, tabbed as WR2 by place coach Zach Azzanni within the spring, missed a big chunk of camp with an belly harm, and his availability for the beginning of the common season is unsure.
Defensively, the Steelers have a surplus of cornerbacks to kind by, and Beanie Bishop Jr., the darling UDFA of the 2024 coaching camp, seems to be on the surface trying in.
One group that may very well be most impacted by the preseason finale is the line of defense after rookie first-rounder Derrick Harmon was carted off the sector with a knee harm and rapidly dominated out. At halftime, coach Mike Tomlin mentioned the defensive finish was “being evaluated.” The Steelers already misplaced some depth there throughout coaching camp when veteran Dean Lowry suffered an ACL tear.
Together with Austin, CB Cory Trice Jr., OL Calvin Anderson and QB Will Howard may very well be candidates to begin the 12 months on IR.
The roster might be reduce to 53 gamers by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here's a projection for the Steelers:
QUARTERBACK (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard.
Although Howard missed all preseason sport motion with a spiral fracture to his finger in his throwing hand, he is nonetheless extra doubtless than Skylar Thompson to make the roster as QB3. There is a situation the place the Steelers may place Howard on IR after placing him on the 53 after which signal both Thompson or Logan Woodside, however a method or one other, Howard, who had a promising camp earlier than the freak harm, might be a part of the Steelers quarterback room this 12 months.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell.
Johnson began to return into his personal within the second preseason sport, together with a first-half 14-yard run the place he confirmed off his imaginative and prescient and acceleration in house. Nonetheless, Warren is the group's beginning working again, and Gainwell rounds out the group as a shifty and versatile third-down again with upside in his receiving potential.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek.
This group is among the many hardest to undertaking. Regardless of the hypothesis across the Steelers including one other outdoors receiver throughout coaching camp, at this level, the Steelers are selecting from their identified commodities. Wilson is on the cusp of rising thanks partially to Rodgers' diligence working with the younger receiver, and Miller is among the many group's most constant offensive choices. Austin is working his method again from an harm that sidelined him most of camp, which may make room for veteran Robert Woods to land a roster spot if Austin is not able to go by Week 1.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Jonnu Smith, Connor Heyward.
This tight ends room is an Arthur Smith fever dream. Washington's dimension created matchup nightmares all through camp, and Rodgers has continuously in contrast him to former Inexperienced Bay tight finish Marcedes Lewis. Heyward, although doubtlessly on the bubble getting into camp, seems to have solidified a task by impressing Rodgers together with his work ethic and can-do angle.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Ryan McCollum, Calvin Anderson, Doug Nester.
The highest six offensive linemen are simply recognized, however after the versatile Spencer Anderson there's some grey space due to accidents to a slew of backup linemen together with Calvin Anderson and McCollum. If neither goes on IR, that leaves one spot for Nester, Max Scharping and former first-round and coaching camp addition Andrus Peat. Nester spent final season on the Steelers' apply squad. His expertise at sort out and guard makes him helpful, and if McCollum is wholesome to begin the common season, maintaining Scharping for his expertise as a middle is much less urgent.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Logan Lee, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Daniel Ekuale.
This group felt skinny previous to camp, however rookies Harmon and Black have been standouts in expanded roles as Heyward missed apply amid a contract dispute. Nevertheless, Harmon's harm may complicate issues. Lee and Loudermilk have been additionally the beneficiaries of additional snaps. Ekuale, a six-year NFL vet, was a 16-game starter in New England final 12 months and offers the Steelers skilled depth at a place that takes a beating through the season.
LINEBACKERS (9): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack Sawyer, Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, Malik Harrison, Mark Robinson.
It was a troublesome name between Robinson and rookie seventh-round decide Carson Bruener, son of former Steelers tight finish and scout Mark Bruener. Robinson, although, has the sting due to his expertise on particular groups, taking part in a minimum of 300 snaps on particular groups in every of the final two seasons. He additionally embodies the particularly bodily mindset of this 12 months's protection together with his signature exhausting hits.
CORNERBACKS (6): Darius Slay, Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr, Cory Trice Jr., James Pierre, Brandin Echols.
A standout UDFA from a season in the past, Beanie Bishop is on the surface trying in as a result of the nickel is all of a sudden extra crowded with the acquisition and subsequent utilization of Ramsey. Each Echols and Ramsey have confirmed to be versatile, energetic heavy-hitters, and Bishop lacks the flexibility and consistency to get a roster spot in a crowded place. He may discover a method again to the roster if the Steelers place Trice on IR to begin the season, liberating up a roster spot.
SAFETIES (4): DeShon Elliott, Chuck Clark, Miles Killebrew, Juan Thornhill.
Clark's addition early in coaching camp gave the Steelers much-needed depth at security to pair with Thornhill and Elliott. Although Killebrew is able to taking part in security, his major worth is on particular groups, the place he earned an All-Professional nod in 2023.
SPECIALISTS (3): Chris Boswell, Cameron Johnston, Christian Kuntz.
The punting battle got here all the way down to the wire, however Johnston has the sting as a result of the group has invested extra in him after signing him to a three-year, $9 million deal previous to final season. Corliss Waitman, although, went punt for punt with Johnston and figures to land someplace within the league this season. Kuntz is that this group's lengthy snapper, however he sustained a “brief time period” chest harm that might impression his availability for Week 1. And whereas Boswell wish to renegotiate his contract as sources advised ESPN's Adam Schefter, he kicked within the preseason, and it does not seem these negotiations will impression his regular-season availability.
