The Pittsburgh Steelers have one more preseason test left, and that means the roster math is getting real. With Thursday’s exhibition finale against the Buffalo Bills on deck, a handful of veterans are staring at the edge of the 53-man roster.
Some of these decisions are already tilting in one direction. Others still have one last chance to change the conversation. Either way, these five names are the ones worth watching most closely over the next week.
Will Howard’s first start did not help his case. Against the New York Jets, he went 10-of-15 passing and threw two interceptions, a rough outing that only adds to the pressure around his spot.
Mike McCarthy gave Mason Rudolph the night off, and that makes the quarterback picture feel even more settled. Keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster is unusual, and McCarthy has never done it.
With Howard’s performance, along with what Drew Allar has done through two games and where the Steelers drafted Howard, he looks like the first quarterback in line if Pittsburgh decides to move on from one.
Kaleb Johnson got more work against the Jets than he did in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. He finished with 12 total offensive touches after seeing just two in the opener, but the bigger issue still hangs over him: special teams.
That could matter a lot when the Steelers sort out the back end of the running back room. The question is whether they keep Johnson over Lew Nichols or Travis Homer, or choose the reserve backs instead.
After a quiet rookie season, Johnson is firmly on the watch list.
Roman Wilson is another name that may catch people off guard. He has flashed in camp for two straight years, but through the first two preseason games, the same issues keep showing up.
On the second of Howard’s interceptions, Wilson drifted too far up field, and that made it easier for Samuel Womack to make the play. The Steelers would love to see him get more runway against the Bills on Thursday and finally show some real pop.
If that doesn’t happen, Gabe Davis or Curtis Samuel could be stronger choices for the WR4 spot.
Broderick Jones had a rough night against the Jets. He gave up a sack on Howard when David Bailey beat him outside, and he also allowed a sack on Drew Allar late in the second half.
Jones is still working back after a neck injury and did not get spring practice reps, so it was notable that he was cleared in time for training camp. The injury to Max Iheanachor could push the Steelers toward keeping Jones for depth, but the tape has not been kind so far.
Malik Harrison may already be headed toward the exit. Elandon Roberts looked fantastic in his first game back in Pittsburgh, and Carson Bruener has turned in a strong preseason.
On top of that, the Steelers can save almost $5 million by moving on from Harrison. That makes the decision feel like a forgone conclusion.
In Other News...
Drew Allar Just Revealed What Still Must Change In Pittsburgh
A rougher preseason outing gave Drew Allar and the Steelers a more useful kind of tape to study than another polished stat line would have. After following up his stronger showing with an 11-for-23 effort for 110 yards in Week 2, the rookie quarterback said he saw places where he could have been cleaner, especially by taking the easier completions earlier in drives and helping the offense settle in sooner.
For Pittsburgh, that kind of self-assessment matters as much as the box score right now. The receiving group had its share of drops, the overall performance never really found a rhythm, and Allar is still in the middle of his development, but the encouraging part is that he looked like a young quarterback learning from a difficult night instead of shrinking from it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Rookie Returner Suddenly Has Everything Riding On One Game
Kaden Wetjens first two preseason games have already put him in the kind of spot every rookie is trying to avoid in late August. The Steelers fourth-round returner flashed some juice in his debut, showing real activity as both a receiver and on special teams, but his follow-up was far quieter and ended with a lost fumble, the sort of mistake that can quickly change the tone of a roster battle.
Now Wetjen has one last chance to make his case before final cuts, and the margin for error is shrinking fast. Insider Mark Kaboly has already described him as on the bubble for Pittsburghs 53-man roster, which leaves the rookie in a simple but unforgiving place: one more strong performance could help him stick, while another uneven outing would make the decision even tougher for the Steelers staff. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Be Running Out Of Patience With Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones was supposed to be part of the Steelers long-term answer on the offensive line when Pittsburgh took him in the first round in 2023, but his path since then has been anything but smooth. Injuries, including a neck issue, and repeated position changes have complicated his development, and even with preseason reps, he has not locked down the kind of steady role the team hoped he would grow into.
The bigger question now is less about his draft status than his fit in Pittsburghs plans. Jones has 38 NFL starts on his rsum, but the Steelers still have reason to wonder whether he can be counted on as a reliable tackle, which is why they are weighing every possible outcome, from keeping him as depth to moving on entirely or seeing whether the trade market offers a better answer. [Read more 🡒]