The Steelers got the kind of interior push they were banking on from Keeanu Benton in Tampa Bay, and Patrick Graham made it clear he noticed.
After Pittsburgh’s 26-19 overtime win, Graham had praise ready for the former second-round pick, who was active all game in the middle of the defense.
“I was very pleased with him, very pleased,” Graham expressed to reporters. “I thought it was a really solid game for him.”
Benton’s stat line backed up the compliment. He broke up two passing plays, logged two tackles for loss and added three tackles while helping Pittsburgh control the line of scrimmage. That work made life difficult for the Buccaneers on the ground, with Bucky Irving held to 2.4 yards per carry.
The outing stood out even more because Pittsburgh needed Benton to step up. Derrick Harmon was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury, meaning he must miss at least four games. With that absence, Benton’s role in the middle became even more important, and he answered with urgency.
It was also the kind of showing the Steelers had in mind when they committed to him in August. Pittsburgh signed Benton to a four-year, $72 million extension that tied him with Cameron Heyward as the fifth-highest-paid player on the defense, at $18 million per year. According to Over the Cap, that deal ranks 24th in annual average among NFL interior defensive linemen.
For now, the bigger question is whether Benton can keep this level going. The Steelers need more than one big day from him.
Cameron Heyward, at 37, is still producing at a high level with 20 total tackles, a sack and four pass deflections, but it’s not realistic to ask him to carry the whole front by himself. He’s also been helping younger players along, passing down the kind of details that have made him such a fixture on Pittsburgh’s defense.
That growth has shown up before, with Harmon swatting passes at the line a few weeks ago. Benton is now starting to flash that same skill, and Graham likes where it’s headed.
“I just love where the trajectory of the season is going for him” Graham said.
Heyward won’t anchor the Steelers’ defensive front forever. Someone eventually has to take that weight. On Sunday, Benton gave Pittsburgh a strong reminder that he may be ready to do exactly that.
In Other News...
Steelers Still Have One Trade Deadline Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Even after a busy stretch of roster patching, the Steelers still have work to do before the 2026 NFL trade deadline becomes a real point of pressure. Pittsburgh has already added Sean Murphy-Bunting, Terrell Smith and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but those signings only underline how many spots still deserve attention if the front office wants more stability and depth heading into the next stage of the roster build.
Guard remains a glaring question, and the secondary and receiving corps could use more help as well, with cornerback, linebacker and wide receiver all sitting on the list of needs. The Steelers are clearly monitoring ways to upgrade, but for now the bigger story is not what they have done, it is how many holes still remain and which direction they will choose when the market presents them with a real option. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Need A Bold WR Move Before This Gets Worse
Pittsburghs wide receiver room has already been stretched thin by injuries, and that has pushed the conversation beyond patchwork fixes and into the kind of move that can change the rest of the season. The idea making the rounds is a trade target from Tampa Bay, a proven veteran who has built a strong career while still offering enough current production to make the fit worth considering, even if the price tag would not be simple.
The problem for the Steelers is that any meaningful addition comes with layers of risk, from the financial commitment to the health questions surrounding the players recent seasons. He has dealt with a serious ankle injury and a fibula issue, and the appeal of adding another established pass catcher has to be weighed against how much uncertainty Pittsburgh can afford in a room that is already short on reliable bodies. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Paris Plans Changed As Unrest Starts Affecting Fan Experience
The NFLs first regular-season game in Paris is still on the schedule, with the Steelers and Saints set to play at Stade de France even as civil unrest continues to ripple across the city. For Pittsburgh, the football part of the trip remains intact, and the league is working with local authorities on the operational and security side as it prepares to stage a landmark overseas game.
What has changed is the fan experience around the matchup. Pittsburgh had planned a Steelers House event in Paris to give traveling supporters a central gathering place, but that piece of the week has been pulled back as the situation in the city develops. The game itself is moving forward, yet the atmosphere around it has clearly shifted, and the Steelers are adjusting their footprint accordingly. [Read more 🡒]