The Steelers are down another body on the defensive front, and that opens a real lane for Gabriel Rubio to step forward.
On Thursday, Pittsburgh said veteran defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day is going on the Reserve/Injured list after suffering a triceps injury. Joseph-Day had just turned in a strong game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but now he joins a defensive line that’s already been thinned out by injuries.
Earlier this month, the Steelers also put 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon on IR because of a foot injury. With Harmon and Joseph-Day out, the list of established interior options is short: Cam Heyward, who is 37, and Keeanu Benton. In the base defense, nose tackle Yahya Black will stay in the mix with Heyward and Benton, but beyond that Pittsburgh’s depth has been pushed to the edge.
That’s where Rubio comes in.
The sixth-round rookie has played only two games, but the chance in front of him is suddenly much bigger. Joseph-Day had been playing between 23 and 26 defensive snaps per game over the last three weeks, and Rubio has already seen 14 and 13 snaps in the two games since Harmon went down. If the Steelers hand Rubio most of Joseph-Day’s work, his snap count could jump into the 30-plus range on a weekly basis.
That would be a huge increase, and it would put Rubio under the kind of spotlight that can define a young player’s early season.
So far, the early tape has given the Steelers a mixed read. The rough part is obvious: Rubio doesn’t bring much as a pass rusher. He lacks the bend, plan, and move variety to consistently threaten quarterbacks, and that may just not be an area where he ever becomes much of a factor.
But there’s real value in what he has shown against the run.
At 6'5'' and over 320 pounds, Rubio has been sturdy at the line of scrimmage. He’s shown the ability to absorb contact, take on double teams without giving ground, and hold up well enough to let the defense stay sound.
His run defense has shown up on film, even if it doesn’t pile up box-score stats. That kind of work can force opponents into more predictable situations.
The Steelers are going to need more of that now. With Harmon and Joseph-Day sidelined, Rubio is set for a key rotational role, and Pittsburgh may also need undrafted rookie Kevin Jobity Jr. to suit up while the defensive line stays thin.
For Rubio, the next stretch will say plenty. The Steelers are about to find out whether the moment comes too fast for him or whether the Day 3 pick can become part of the answer up front. His first major test arrives in Week 7 in Paris, France, against the New Orleans Saints.
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Patrick Graham said Bentons work against the Buccaneers stood out, and the Steelers have reason to believe theres more to come. The question now is how much of that impact can carry forward once the rotation settles again, because the teams bet on Benton was never just about one good afternoon. It was about finding a linchpin up front, and the early returns suggest the payoff may be coming into view. [Read more 🡒]
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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
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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 🡒]