The Steelers didn’t shake up much when they released their Week 2 depth chart, even with a trip to face the New England Patriots on deck.
After opening the season with a 20-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh is rolling into Gillette Stadium with the same basic look it used in Week 1. No notable changes showed up on the depth chart, a sign the team is comfortable running it back for now as it tries to get to 2-0.
If there was one area where a change seemed possible, it was along the right side of the offensive line. Right tackle and right guard looked like the spots most likely to see movement before the Patriots game.
Dylan Cook had a tough day against Atlanta, giving up a sack and three total pressures at right tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Spencer Anderson didn’t have a much cleaner afternoon at right guard, though his spot didn’t seem quite as vulnerable as Cook’s after Week 1.
That makes Max Iheanachor a name to keep watching. The first-round pick had his preseason cut short by an upper-body injury in training camp, but he’s been healthy for weeks now and showed enough during the summer to hint at real upside at right tackle. Pittsburgh isn’t making that switch yet, but another rough outing or two from Cook could push the issue.
On the defensive side, Joey Porter Jr. remains a major storyline. He was inactive in Week 1 as he continued ramping back up after missing all of training camp while on the PUP list with a back injury.
His contract situation has only added another layer of complication. Even so, the signs point to him taking part at a higher level in practice this week, which could put him on track to return soon.
For now, the Steelers still list Porter Jr. OR Asante Samuel Jr. as the starter at one of the boundary cornerback spots next to Jamel Deal. Samuel Jr. filled in against Atlanta and handled the role well enough, starting and playing 60 defensive snaps while allowing one catch on two targets for 21 yards.
In Other News...
Steelers New Look Still Leaves One Big Problem To Solve
The Steelers came out of their latest game looking different on both sides of the ball, and not just in the usual early-season, we-need-to-see-more way. Aaron Rodgers was more willing to test defenses downfield, while the front seven kept rotating T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith in ways that suggested a more flexible pass-rush approach than in years past. Pittsburgh also mixed in plenty of two-tight-end looks, and the snap counts for Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson offered another small reminder that this offense is still sorting out who fits where.
Even with the changes, the game still kept circling back to the same old frustration: missed chances. Drops and inaccurate throws broke up drives that had enough going for them to matter, which is why the new look feels promising without yet feeling complete. The Steelers have shown they can create different answers schematically, but until the passing game cleans up the finishing work, the biggest question on the roster is still waiting for a real solution. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Suddenly Have Real Reason To Worry About Joey Porter Jr
For a Steelers team that has tried to build its identity around young, physical defense, Joey Porter Jr. suddenly finding his name in trade chatter is the kind of development that lands hard. NFL Networks Ian Rapoport pointed to the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions as possible destinations for the cornerback, with Pittsburgh still working through a contract dispute that has added another layer of uncertainty around one of its most important young defenders.
The Lions have reportedly shown interest, while the Chiefs are searching for help at cornerback after injuries and trades thinned that room. Any move would still have to clear a complicated path, though, with Porters contract demands and Kansas Citys salary cap situation making a deal far from simple. For now, it is less about where Porter might go than the fact that the Steelers have reached the point where such a conversation is even happening. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Week 1 Usage Raised Some Early Lineup Questions
Week 1 gave the Steelers an early look at how this defense and offense may be leaning under their current personnel mix, and the snap counts were hard to miss. T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward were on the field less than fans have grown used to seeing, while Jalen Ramsey and Payton Wilson barely came off it. On offense, rookie Germie Bernard had a limited role, but Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington were both featured heavily as Pittsburgh worked through its first game plan of the season.
The usage patterns do not settle many questions so much as they open them up. Reduced workloads for Watt and Heyward can be explained plenty of ways in a season opener, but they still stand out when paired with the near every-snap roles for Ramsey and Wilson and the tight end-heavy approach on offense. For a team trying to sort out its weekly identity early, the first-round of snap counts offered a clearer view of who the Steelers trust right away and a few more spots where the rotation still feels unsettled. [Read more 🡒]