The Pittsburgh Steelers are staring at a Week 3 problem that goes beyond one bad loss. After managing just a field goal in a 20-3 defeat to the New England Patriots, they’re headed into a must-win AFC North game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a long list of things that need to get fixed fast.
The matchup is already a tough one. Cincinnati brings a dangerous offense built around Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. On top of that, the Steelers also have to deal with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and a defense that gave up only six points to the Texans on the road in Week 2.
It’s still September, which means there’s time to straighten things out. But if Pittsburgh wants this season to go anywhere, these five issues have to be cleaned up immediately.
First and foremost, DK Metcalf has to start catching the ball. Through two games, his hands have been a real problem, and if his drops were stretched across a 17-game season, he’d be on pace for 26 of them.
Metcalf is never going to be the most dependable receiver at the catch point, but he has to be far better than this. He may get some favorable looks against Bengals cornerback Dax Hill and safety Jordan Battle, who have both struggled early in coverage.
Still, when the ball comes his way, it has to stick.
The right guard spot is another major concern, and the latest injury news for Spencer Anderson only makes it messier. The Steelers don’t even know exactly who will line up there this week, but whoever gets the job is going to have a brutal assignment.
Dexter Lawrence is waiting, and this line has already had enough trouble over the first two games that things could easily get worse. Backup center/guard Brock Hoffman could be in line for the nod.
Whoever plays there, Pittsburgh needs a serious jump in performance, and head coach Mike McCarthy should be looking for ways to hide that weakness.
Aaron Rodgers also has to do more pushing the ball downfield. In Week 1, there were a few encouraging throws that just missed.
Against the Patriots, though, the 42-year-old looked far less comfortable. He was skittish in the pocket and never really connected on the deep shots.
Some of that is on the line and on receivers who haven’t consistently separated, but Rodgers hasn’t lifted the group around him either. He needs to be more willing to step up, throw over the middle and challenge defenses downfield, even if he takes some hits along the way.
Rayshawn Jenkins has to tighten things up as the last line of defense. His coverage inconsistency has been a recurring issue, and his tendency to chase splash plays can leave the door open for explosive gains.
That showed up clearly in Week 2. It can’t happen against Burrow and this passing attack.
Jenkins has to stay disciplined on every snap, because if he doesn’t, Pittsburgh’s defense won’t be able to survive it.
And then there’s the offensive line as a whole. The Steelers aren’t just dealing with one shaky spot.
Every starter up front has had moments where they’ve been overwhelmed this season. But the biggest problem may be the missed assignments.
Free blitzers and stunts have given them fits, and the running backs have to be part of the fix in pass protection, too. Center Zach Frazier is the only Steelers player who kept the same role from the 2025 season, so some growing pains were expected.
Now the unit has to clean it up in Week 3.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jr. Just Sparked A Steelers Debate He Can't Win
Joey Porter Jr. has only been in the league a short time, but he already knows what comes with a Steelers-Bengals week: every comment gets measured against the tape. After recent remarks suggesting he has never really had trouble with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the discussion around his matchup work has only grown louder, because Pittsburgh fans know Cincinnatis top receivers have been central figures in this rivalry for years.
The numbers behind those games paint a more complicated picture for Porter and the Steelers. Across the past three seasons, Chase and Higgins have consistently found production when Porter has been on the field, while his own coverage grades against Cincinnati have bounced around from game to game. It leaves Porter in a familiar spot for a young corner in a division that never lets anyone off the hook: the debate is already bigger than the quote, and the next meeting is the only place he can really settle it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Guard Problem Before Bengals Week
The Steelers found themselves sorting through a new interior line concern this week as rookie guard Gennings Dunker popped up on the injury report with a knee issue ahead of Week 3. Spencer Anderson is still working through a bone break in his leg, though he has been able to practice fully this week, leaving Pittsburgh with a thinner-than-expected group at a spot that usually needs steady rotation and depth.
For now, Brock Hoffman is the only fully healthy guard on the roster, which makes the upcoming matchup with Cincinnati a little more complicated than the Steelers likely wanted. Even with Anderson on the field, the groups availability is suddenly a real storyline heading into a divisional game, and Pittsburgh will be watching closely to see how much it can trust its interior options when the game plan starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Decision Just Got A Lot More Serious Before Bengals
The Steelers backfield picture got a little murkier this week with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle both limited or missing practice because of injuries, leaving Pittsburgh with fewer clean answers as it prepares for Cincinnati. It is the kind of late-week development that can change how an offense is built, especially when the running game already has to absorb the ripple effects of a crowded injury report.
Pittsburgh has other players showing up as limited or absent, but the running back situation is the one demanding the most attention heading into the Bengals game. Depending on Dowdles availability, the Steelers may need to turn to the practice squad to add depth at the position, which would make Fridays final injury updates especially important. [Read more 🡒]