The Steelers’ preseason opener arrives with plenty still unsettled, and that makes the first game more than just a warmup. With a 91-man roster in camp, Pittsburgh has real decisions to make, and a handful of players are running out of time to separate themselves.
A strong showing in this one can change the conversation fast. A flat night can send a player sliding closer to the bubble. For three Steelers in particular, the pressure is on from the opening snap.
Kevin Jobity Jr. is one of the more interesting undrafted free agents Pittsburgh brought in, but he hasn’t done enough yet to force his way into the picture. The defensive line group is crowded, and other players have already seemed to move ahead of him. At this point, he appears to be battling more for a practice squad role than anything else.
Still, the door is open. Jobity should get chances in the second half, and that gives the athletic, raw lineman a real opportunity to show the pass-rushing ability he flashed in college. If he can make some noise, he could start climbing the depth chart.
Kaleb Johnson is in a different spot, but the stakes are just as real. He’s been a steady presence throughout the summer, yet he remains on the roster bubble.
He’s tried to add value on special teams, but that alone won’t be enough. What he needs now is the big-play ability he showed in school, and he needs it to translate when the lights come on.
Johnson should see plenty of work, and the expectation is simple: look solid running the football. If he can’t do that, he risks being reduced to a limited special teams piece, and that doesn’t carry much weight.
Then there’s Will Howard, whose summer has taken a sharp turn. What once looked like a path to the backup job has not played out that way, and he now looks like a clear cut candidate. Mason Rudolph is settled in as the team’s second option, which leaves Howard with one job - prove he belongs ahead of Rudolph.
That challenge starts in the preseason opener. If Howard doesn’t take a step here, his time in Pittsburgh could come to an end quickly.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Lost A Veteran Presence Steelers Fans Know Well
Elandon Roberts is headed back to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal, bringing a familiar presence to a defense that already knows what it gets from him. After spending the 2025 season with the Raiders, the veteran linebacker is set to return to the Steelers for 2026, giving the unit another seasoned option in the middle of things.
Roberts has long been valued for the kind of physical, no-nonsense play that travels well from season to season, and that fit made him a natural target for a reunion. For the Steelers, his return adds experience and edge to a defense that can always use more of both, while also taking one notable name off the list of former contributors elsewhere in the AFC. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Secondary Problem They May Need To Trade For
Training camp has a way of exposing a rosters weak spots, and for Pittsburgh, the secondary is suddenly looking like one of them. Injuries have thinned the group enough that the Steelers are already being linked to outside help, with the kind of depth concerns that tend to push a front office into evaluating every available option before the preseason grind gets any deeper.
One name that has surfaced is Carrington Valentine, with Pittsburgh reportedly in contact with Green Bay about the cornerback. The Steelers are also said to have interest in Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, a sign they may be surveying multiple spots in the back end rather than waiting for the situation to sort itself out. For a defense that expects to play fast and physical, the next move in the secondary could matter a lot. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Rodgers Is Shaping The Steelers In A Way Fans Will Feel
Aaron Rodgers has spent the early part of his final NFL season doing more than just getting ready to play quarterback for the Steelers. Since arriving in Pittsburgh, he has leaned into a mentorship role with younger players, taken part in team bonding activities, and joined scrimmages as the group gets acclimated to new head coach Mike McCarthy. For a team trying to blend experience with development, Rodgers brings a rsum few can match after 18 years with the Packers and two seasons with the Jets.
What makes his presence matter for Pittsburgh is not only what he can still do on the field, but how his day-to-day approach may shape the locker room around him. Rodgers is in a unique spot as a veteran at the end of a long career, and the Steelers are asking him to help set a tone younger players can carry forward. The full impact of that influence will unfold over time, but it is already clear his role in Pittsburgh is about more than just the next snap. [Read more 🡒]