The Steelers are sitting at 2-2 heading into Week 5, and the next stretch on the schedule looks like the kind of run that can change the feel of a season fast. Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans in Paris, France are all ahead, and Pittsburgh has a real shot to steady itself if it can handle business and take advantage of what’s going on around the league.
That part matters. It’s not just about the Steelers getting their own house in order, as head coach Mike McCarthy put it. It’s also about spotting the soft spots on the other side and pressing hard.
One of the clearest openings comes against the Colts. Indianapolis signed defensive end Arden Key in the offseason, and he wasted no time making an impact, posting 20 quarterback pressures over the first few games - 20th-most in the NFL among qualified edge rushers.
But Key suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4, and Colts head coach Shane Steichen said he is going to miss some time recovering. For Pittsburgh, that’s a major break.
Keeping Aaron Rodgers upright and giving him a clean pocket is always part of the equation, and with Key sidelined, Indianapolis loses one of its biggest edge threats.
There’s another favorable matchup coming in Week 6 against Tampa Bay, and this one looks different for a simple reason: Baker Mayfield won’t be there. Instead, the Steelers are set to face rookie Jalon Daniels after Mayfield’s injury pushed him into the starting role.
Daniels showed some promise in the preseason, but his first start was uneven - 19 completions on 27 attempts for 148 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also ran eight times for 55 yards.
The athleticism is there, but Pittsburgh has every reason to believe it can make life difficult for a young quarterback. This defense has historically feasted on rookie passers, and that experience could show up again if Daniels is forced into mistakes.
The Steelers may get a break up front in another matchup, too. Lane Johnson, one of the defining pieces of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning teams over the past decade, is out.
Johnson, a top-10 pick in 2013 and the second-biggest name from that first round behind DeAndre Hopkins, has put together the most accomplished career of any player selected in those first 32 picks. Without him, Pittsburgh’s pass rush should have a cleaner path.
Jalen Hurts is still the big challenge, but the absence of a perennial Pro Bowl tackle changes the look of that battle.
Pittsburgh isn’t the only AFC North team dealing with injury problems, either. The Baltimore Ravens are navigating their own early-season issues after Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle sprain in Week 4.
Baltimore is off to a strong start, but Jackson is now unlikely to play in Week 5, and there’s no clear timeline yet. The Steelers won’t see the Ravens until Week 15, which gives Jackson time to get healthy, but after four games already spent banged up, it’s fair to wonder whether he can hold up for the full 2026 season.
And then there’s Carolina in Week 16, where the Panthers’ offensive line situation is already in rough shape. Both of their starting tackles from last season are on the Physically Unable to Perform List or the Non-Football Injury List, rookie starting right tackle Monroe Freeling has already dealt with a concussion and a knee injury, and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips is now working through a hamstring injury as well. However that game looks by then, the Panthers are dealing with serious roster strain right now.
For the Steelers, the path ahead is still about execution first. But with injuries piling up on opponents, the margins could be getting a little more favorable.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]