The Steelers don’t need a preseason headline. They need answers up front.
That’s why this week’s matchup with the New York Jets matters for Pittsburgh’s offensive line, especially with Aaron Rodgers getting older by the day and the group still working through its own issues. If Mike McCarthy wants to keep his quarterback clean, this is the kind of game where the details start to matter.
And David Bailey is the kind of test that can expose them.
The former Texas Tech standout went second overall in the 2026 NFL Draft for a reason. His college production was loud enough on its own - he led the FBS with 14.5 sacks last season - but the awards stacked up too. Bailey was a 2025 Unanimous All-American, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and a Pony Express Award winner.
New York has already shown it’s willing to move him around. Bailey can line up at defensive end or as a versatile linebacker, and last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he flashed in limited snaps. He worked stunts, stayed active against the run and showed the pass-rush tools that made him such a high-end pick.
He should get more run in Week 2, which puts Pittsburgh’s right side in the spotlight.
That’s where the Steelers’ biggest offensive line concern could show up. The unit had a decent opening preseason showing, but it wasn’t spotless. James Campen’s group gave up 10 pressures and three sacks, and Troy Fautanu was flagged twice for 15 yards.
There’s also the issue of depth. With McCarthy "without a timeline" on Max Iheanachor's injury status, Dylan Cook could see more snaps.
That wouldn’t be a bad thing for Pittsburgh. Cook has only four regular-season starts, but he’s built a solid reputation, and PFF has him graded 22nd overall at 76 and eighth in pass blocking at 80.7.
Bailey is expected to line up as a left edge rusher, which makes this a particularly useful challenge for the Steelers’ tackles. Stopping him won’t settle the whole season, and one preseason game won’t define the line. But it will tell us whether this group is taking a real step toward handling a much bigger assignment ahead.
For Pittsburgh, that’s the point of August. And for Bailey, it’s a chance to make things uncomfortable.
In Other News...
Drew Allar Just Revealed What Still Must Change In Pittsburgh
A rougher preseason outing gave Drew Allar and the Steelers a more useful kind of tape to study than another polished stat line would have. After following up his stronger showing with an 11-for-23 effort for 110 yards in Week 2, the rookie quarterback said he saw places where he could have been cleaner, especially by taking the easier completions earlier in drives and helping the offense settle in sooner.
For Pittsburgh, that kind of self-assessment matters as much as the box score right now. The receiving group had its share of drops, the overall performance never really found a rhythm, and Allar is still in the middle of his development, but the encouraging part is that he looked like a young quarterback learning from a difficult night instead of shrinking from it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Rookie Returner Suddenly Has Everything Riding On One Game
Kaden Wetjens first two preseason games have already put him in the kind of spot every rookie is trying to avoid in late August. The Steelers fourth-round returner flashed some juice in his debut, showing real activity as both a receiver and on special teams, but his follow-up was far quieter and ended with a lost fumble, the sort of mistake that can quickly change the tone of a roster battle.
Now Wetjen has one last chance to make his case before final cuts, and the margin for error is shrinking fast. Insider Mark Kaboly has already described him as on the bubble for Pittsburghs 53-man roster, which leaves the rookie in a simple but unforgiving place: one more strong performance could help him stick, while another uneven outing would make the decision even tougher for the Steelers staff. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Be Running Out Of Patience With Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones was supposed to be part of the Steelers long-term answer on the offensive line when Pittsburgh took him in the first round in 2023, but his path since then has been anything but smooth. Injuries, including a neck issue, and repeated position changes have complicated his development, and even with preseason reps, he has not locked down the kind of steady role the team hoped he would grow into.
The bigger question now is less about his draft status than his fit in Pittsburghs plans. Jones has 38 NFL starts on his rsum, but the Steelers still have reason to wonder whether he can be counted on as a reliable tackle, which is why they are weighing every possible outcome, from keeping him as depth to moving on entirely or seeing whether the trade market offers a better answer. [Read more 🡒]