LATROBE, Pa. - The Steelers cut training camp short by a day because of bad weather, but the final read on the roster picture still came into focus at St. Vincent.
Aaron Rodgers is 42 now, so the legs aren’t what they used to be. That much is obvious.
What still jumps out is the arm, the processing speed and the way he sees the field. He’s also brought a deep understanding of Mike McCarthy’s system into the building, and the staff has been especially impressed by how he has worked with the young quarterbacks around him, Will Howard and Drew Allar.
Allar turned heads Thursday night against the Packers, which fits with the way his first spring and summer have gone. The Penn State product has shown more than expected as a pro, and his physical tools are easy to see.
The game hasn’t looked too fast for him, and the coaching tweaks to his footwork have started to stick. Right now, as a third-round pick, he has a place on the roster.
The bigger question is Howard: whether he’s ready to be the backup, and whether that makes Mason Rudolph available. If the Steelers decide Rudolph matters too much to lose, they’d be looking at carrying four quarterbacks.
The skill group has deepened as well. Roman Wilson, entering his third year, has been one of the most versatile pieces in the receiver room, able to line up at all three spots.
In McCarthy’s offense, that matters. Wilson has been running with confidence, burst and separation ability, and with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. dealing with injuries, he’s had room to show it.
Rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard would be the fourth receiver if the season opened today, and he’s been effective as an intermediate target who brings physicality and strength. He’s sharp on option routes, and the key for both Wilson and Bernard is that Rodgers trusts Wilson already and Bernard is moving in that direction.
At tight end, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are giving the Steelers exactly what they’re supposed to. Freiermuth can work the middle of the field, while Washington remains a major factor in the run game.
In the backfield, Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are expected to share the workload, with the order less important than the tandem itself. The unsettled piece is the third running back spot, where the hope is Kaleb Johnson can make progress while he battles Travis Homer and others.
Up front, the left side of the offensive line looks locked in. Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier have formed a trio that’s smart, tough and physical.
The right side is less settled, but there are candidates. Spencer Anderson has handled right guard well and could serve as a stopgap until rookie Gennings Dunker, who is starting to climb, is ready.
At right tackle, Dylan Cook is the current answer while Broderick Jones works back from a difficult neck injury and first-rounder Max Iheanachor deals with an injury. Iheanachor has flashed, and there’s an expectation he could start at some point this year, but first he has to stay on the field.
On defense, Patrick Graham’s arrival seems to fit the makeup of the group. The scheme is multiple and complex, and the veterans have taken to it quickly.
T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward have been on board immediately because of their football IQ, while Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson have stood out for their communication and leadership, traits that should help Graham keep the defense flexible before the snap.
The defensive front has also made an impression because of its size and depth. Derrick Harmon has shown talent, and he’s also drawn notice for being coachable, which opens the door to a breakout second season.
Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton already look like anchors in Graham’s system. Julius Welschof, the German import, has also forced his way into the conversation with his size, strength and length off the edge, even if the path to snaps is crowded behind Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer.
The secondary brings veteran answers too. Jalen Ramsey, who will play the star or nickel spot, and DeShon Elliott have both shown they can organize things on the back end, with Jamel Dean and Joey Porter Jr. also in the mix.
The name to keep watching, though, may be Asante Samuel Jr. He has put together a serious push to start after dealing with injuries over the past few years, and his work ethic, ball skills and instincts all stand out.
There’s age throughout the defense, just as there is on offense, so the development of younger players could matter more than ever. Rookie defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio from Notre Dame and rookie safety Robert Spears-Jennings from Oklahoma are two names that could become important as the Steelers keep shaping the roster.
In Other News...
Will Howard Suddenly Has A Bigger Steelers Roster Problem
The Steelers got a useful look at their quarterback room in the preseason game against Green Bay, and on the surface it was a solid night for the group. Will Howard completed seven of nine passes for 86 yards, a respectable showing for a young passer trying to make a case in a crowded competition, but the depth chart is tightening fast around him.
Mason Rudolph remains in the mix as the steadier presence, and rookie Drew Allar added another layer to the battle with a strong performance that clearly left an impression on Mike McCarthy. For Howard, that means every snap matters even more now, because the path to sticking on the roster is starting to look narrower than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Najee Harris Just Got A Big Chance After His Latest Setback
Najee Harris is still looking for his next NFL home, and a visit with the New York Giants gives the former Steelers running back a real opportunity to keep his career moving after a difficult setback. For a player who once handled a heavy workload in Pittsburgh, the chance to re-enter the picture in New York is the kind of opening that can matter this late in the process, especially for a team that is still sorting out its depth behind Cam Skattebo.
The Giants want to see where Harris stands before anything goes further, which makes this more than just a courtesy stop. He has to prove he is far enough along in his recovery to be considered for a roster spot, and that part of the process can matter just as much as the name recognition. If Harris clears that hurdle, he could give a backfield in need of another option a veteran presence and a familiar kind of insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fringe Roster Battle Just Got Much Harder To Ignore
Pittsburghs final public practice of training camp was shortened by rain, but the weather did little to slow the conversation around the back end of the roster. With two preseason games still to play before the cutdown to 53, the Steelers have seen a few fringe players make a real case for themselves, turning what looked like routine camp depth into a more interesting evaluation for the coaching staff.
Lew Nichols, Brandon Smith and Doneiko Slaughter have all popped enough in camp and in the preseason opener to force another look, even though none entered the summer with much buzz as likely roster pieces. For a team still sorting out the final spots, that kind of performance matters, and it has made the next stretch of preseason feel a little less about filling out games and a lot more about separating names that seemed like afterthoughts a week ago. [Read more 🡒]