The Steelers are about to get a first look at real game action, and for Brandon Smith, that means something even bigger: a shot to force his way into the roster conversation.
Smith came into training camp as a name few people had circled. The 27-year-old has spent nearly his entire career on practice squads, but in Pittsburgh he immediately got first-team reps on day one and has kept that momentum rolling ever since.
He’s stayed in the mix with Aaron Rodgers and company, and that could put him among the first wide receivers on the field against the Packers. He’s also backed it up with plays, whether that’s hauling in a diving touchdown from Drew Allar or working open over the middle to give Rodgers another option.
That kind of consistency gives Smith a real path to the 53-man roster, but nothing about this climb is simple. He doesn’t have much NFL experience and doesn’t come into this with any built-in edge. To stick, he has to be close to perfect.
The Steelers may be one of the few teams that actually need a receiver at the bottom of the depth chart who can contribute on offense. Right now, Ben Skowronek and Kaden Wetjen are projected to round out the room, but neither is viewed as a true offensive weapon, and Wetjen doesn’t have much experience at the position.
That leaves the door open for Smith if he keeps producing. He could land on the practice squad, but if he plays well enough to make himself valuable elsewhere in the league, Pittsburgh may not have a choice but to keep him.
For Smith, the next three weeks are about showing the whole NFL what he can do, not just the Steelers. If he keeps pulling off the unthinkable, he could wind up on the 53-man roster this season.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have A Mason Rudolph Decision They Didnt Expect
Mason Rudolph entered camp looking like the clear favorite to sit behind Aaron Rodgers on the Steelers quarterback depth chart, but the picture has become a little more complicated than that. Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar are in the mix too, which means Pittsburgh suddenly has a real decision to make on a player who was expected to provide a steady, familiar hand as the backup.
The twist is that Rudolph has also surfaced in trade chatter, with Houston mentioned as a possible landing spot as it looks for extra quarterback depth. For Pittsburgh, it leaves an awkward question: keep the veteran insurance policy in place, or see whether the younger options can force their way into the No. 2 role and make Rudolph expendable if the right offer comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers QB Battle Puts Will Howards Future In Serious Doubt
The Steelers quarterback room already looks crowded for 2026, and the squeeze could make Will Howard the odd man out. Pittsburgh currently has Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Howard on the depth chart, giving the organization more options than it can realistically carry long term. That has turned Howards standing into a real question as the roster picture starts to come into focus.
The discussion around who stays and who goes has also grown louder because the debate is not simply about keeping four arms around. Andrew Fillipponi and former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have both gone on record favoring Howard over Rudolph for retention and playing time, which adds another layer to an already tricky decision. For a team trying to map out its future behind center, the next move could say plenty about how it views Howards place in it. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Allar Just Gave Steelers Fans A New Reason To Wonder
Drew Allar made his first preseason appearance look about as smooth as a rookie quarterback can hope for, showing the kind of poise that can quickly get a fan base talking. The Steelers quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and he added a rushing score as well, a debut that naturally gave Pittsburgh plenty to chew on after a summer of waiting to see how he would look in live action.
The bigger picture, though, is still the same for now. Aaron Rodgers is slated to open the season as the starter, with Will Howard ahead of Allar on the depth chart, so this was not a performance that changes the immediate pecking order. Even so, a strong first impression from a young passer tends to linger in Pittsburgh, especially when fans are already drawing their own comparisons to what he did in college under James Franklin. [Read more 🡒]