The Steelers’ second preseason game against the New York Jets carries real weight, and the biggest storyline is still the one hanging over the quarterback room. Will Howard and Drew Allar get another chance to make noise, and if either one makes a strong enough push, Pittsburgh could wind up carrying four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster.
That possibility would send the ripple effects through the rest of the roster, and the first place it could show up is at running back. If the Steelers keep four quarterbacks, they are expected to open the regular season with three backs, most likely Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle and veteran Travis Homer.
Under normal circumstances, that would be an easier spot to sort through. But Kaleb Johnson, Lew Nichols and Eli Heidenreich are all in the mix, and that makes running back one of the most obvious places for the Steelers to trim if they choose to keep the extra quarterback.
Inside linebacker is another spot that could get squeezed. Elandon Roberts is back with the organization after spending a year with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Steelers are not bringing him in to sit. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are also locked into playing roles, which leaves veteran Cole Holcomb and second-year special teams standout Carson Bruener fighting for the final opening.
Bruener offers more speed and pop on special teams, while Holcomb has shown he can still step in as a starter and help against the run. It’s a tight decision, but if Pittsburgh goes with four quarterbacks, the defense may only have room for four inside linebackers.
The interior offensive line adds another layer to the puzzle. Spencer Anderson has not fully secured the right guard job, and Brock Hoffman - a swing guard and center - could end up with the first-team group when the Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
At this point, Pittsburgh is likely looking at keeping nine or 10 offensive linemen, though that number could come down if the team carries four quarterbacks.
One player worth watching closely is center Ryan McCollum. He has been a reliable backup over the past few seasons, but Hoffman’s presence could put McCollum on the outside looking in.
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Steelers Have A Joey Porter Jr. Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Joey Porter Jr. is still waiting on a long-term deal from Pittsburgh, and the wait has only added another layer to a situation the Steelers would probably prefer to have settled by now. The young cornerback is also on the Physically Unable to Perform List because of a back issue, which makes his standing one of the more closely watched items around the team as it moves through the offseason.
Interest from other NFL teams has already surfaced with Porter as a potential trade target, but a deal does not appear to be in the Steelers plans right now. If the two sides still do not have an agreement next offseason, Pittsburgh may have to consider using the franchise tag, keeping the conversation around Porter very much alive for another year. [Read more 🡒]
DK Metcalf Has Steelers Fans Doing A Double Take Again
DK Metcalfs first year in Pittsburgh gave the Steelers plenty to think about after they sent a 2025 second-round pick to Seattle to bring him in. He still finished as the team leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, even with a two-game NFL suspension for conduct detrimental to the league after an incident involving a fan cutting into the back end of his season. When he came back for the Wild Card Round, he was part of the offense again, but the Steelers are clearly looking for more from him than just the outside threat he has long been known for.
Thats where the next wrinkle comes in. Pittsburghs coaching staff wants to move Metcalf around more and use him in the slot more often in the upcoming season, a shift that could change how defenses match up with him and how the passing game is built around him. For a player who already gave the offense its most productive season in those categories, the question now is whether the Steelers can turn that into something even bigger by giving him a different kind of role. [Read more 🡒]
DK Metcalfs New Steelers Look Has Fans Wondering Whats Next
DK Metcalfs first season in Pittsburgh has already taken a few turns, from the blockbuster trade that brought him over from Seattle in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick to the two-game suspension that ended his regular season early after an incident involving a fan. He did make it back for the Steelers playoff game, but the production was limited, leaving plenty of room for the conversation to shift from arrival hype to how the fit actually works moving forward.
Now the attention is on the next chapter under new head coach Mike McCarthy, who plans to use Metcalf more in the slot in 2026. It is a notable wrinkle for a receiver whose look and role already changed once when he landed in Pittsburgh, and it has fans wondering whether this will unlock something different or simply give the Steelers another way to get one of their biggest names involved. [Read more 🡒]