Snap counts don’t tell the whole story, but they do reveal who the Steelers really trusted in Week 1 - and who still has work to do.
Against the Falcons, Pittsburgh’s new defensive setup made one thing clear right away: T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward are getting more breathing room.
That was a noticeable shift from last season, when both veterans were asked to carry massive loads. This time, Watt played 38 defensive snaps, the fewest of the Steelers’ top three outside linebackers.
Nick Herbig was right there with 39, Alex Highsmith followed at 41, and Jack Sawyer added 23 more. The rotation paid off.
Watt and Highsmith each finished with two sacks, while Herbig and Sawyer chipped in with six combined tackles.
Heyward saw an even bigger drop in workload. The 37-year-old logged 32 defensive snaps, or 53%, after leading all NFL defensive linemen in snaps last season at age 36.
Keeanu Benton played 35 snaps, Derrick Harmon had 24, and Yahya Black and Sebastian Joseph-Day each got 18. Heyward still made his presence felt anyway, producing as a pass rusher and run defender while also batting down three passes.
Another player who never came off the field was Jalen Ramsey. The Steelers are paying him $17.2 million against the cap this year, and they used him like a centerpiece.
In nickel, he worked in the slot; in base, he moved to safety opposite Jaquan Brisker. Ramsey played all 61 defensive snaps, while Rayshawn Jenkins logged 32 at safety.
That usage becomes even more interesting once DeShon Elliott comes back from injured reserve, because Pittsburgh will have to decide whether Ramsey keeps that kind of every-down role or starts getting more managed alongside Watt and Heyward.
Payton Wilson also looks locked in as an every-down linebacker again. He was on the field for 58 of 61 defensive snaps, a strong sign after he lost snaps late in 2025 to Malik Harrison. Graham’s confidence showed up in the production too: Wilson led the team with 13 total tackles.
On offense, rookie second-round receiver Germie Bernard barely got on the field. He played just three of the Steelers’ 67 offensive snaps, while Roman Wilson clearly held the edge in the WR3 battle with 37 snaps. Bernard was a high draft pick, so the long-term plan is still there, but right now Wilson appears to have the job to lose.
The tight end room still matters, even with the Steelers moving toward more 11 personnel under Mike McCarthy. Pat Freiermuth played 49 snaps and Darnell Washington 43, keeping both of Pittsburgh’s high-priced tight ends heavily involved.
Freiermuth bounced back with five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. Washington had two catches for 18 yards, along with a standout stiff arm and his usual value as a run blocker.
Robert Tonyan was barely used, with just two offensive snaps, while Riley Nowakowski saw eight in a fullback/H-back role.
Special teams brought another layer of clarity. Carson Bruener, Ben Skowronek and Jack Sawyer were all major pieces in that phase, and rookies Robert Spears-Jennings, Daylen Everette, Riley Nowakowski, Eli Heidenreich and returner Kaden Wetjen all contributed as well.
Nick Herbig is still working special teams too, with 11 snaps there, while Watt and Highsmith had none. Among the veteran depth pieces, Rayshawn Jenkins, Cole Holcomb and Brandin Echols were heavily involved on special teams, while Tonyan saw only three snaps in that phase.
In Other News...
Aaron Rodgers Just Reopened A Painful Story And People Noticed
Aaron Rodgers stirred up an old chapter this week by revisiting his relationship with Shailene Woodley on a podcast, offering specific claims about how the breakup and engagement unfolded. It was the kind of candor that can travel fast well beyond celebrity circles, and it quickly put a once-private relationship back in the spotlight for anyone still paying attention.
Woodley was later asked about Rodgers remarks at a public event and answered with a smile rather than a rebuttal, a response that only added to the attention around the story. Friends of Woodley also took issue with what Rodgers said, describing the comments as out of character and not a full picture of what happened, which left the latest round of discussion hanging in a very public way. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers New Look Still Leaves One Big Problem To Solve
The Steelers looked different in their latest outing, and not just because Aaron Rodgers was willing to push the ball downfield more often than fans have been used to seeing. Pittsburghs offense mixed in two-tight-end looks frequently, while the defense kept rotating T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith to keep pressure coming from multiple spots. Even the usage of Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson stood out, a reminder that this version of the roster is still being sorted out on the fly.
But for all the changes, the same frustrating issue kept surfacing: the offense left too many plays on the field. Dropped passes and inaccurate throws kept promising drives from turning into something more, which is why the new look still feels incomplete. The structure is there, and the personnel tweaks are interesting, but until the passing game starts finishing more of those chances, the Steelers are still carrying a problem that no formation or rotation can fully hide. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Depth Chart Leaves Two Key Jobs Suddenly Under Pressure
The Steelers first depth chart of the week brought little drama on paper, but it did reinforce two spots worth watching as they head into Sundays game against the Patriots. Dylan Cook is still listed as the starter at right tackle despite a rough opener, a sign Pittsburgh is not making an immediate change there, while the team also continues to view Max Iheanachor as a possible option down the road.
At cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. is moving along in his recovery and could be back sooner rather than later, which matters because Asante Samuel Jr. handled the starting job in Week 1. For now, the chart is staying put, but the Steelers are clearly keeping an eye on both jobs as they try to settle the early-season picture. [Read more 🡒]