The Steelers’ 28-9 preseason win over the Green Bay Packers gave Mike McCarthy a first look at a roster that’s still taking shape, and a few players made the most of the opportunity. Others, meanwhile, left a little more to prove before the games start counting.
The biggest buzz came from the rookie class, especially wide receiver Germie Bernard. The second-round pick looked every bit like a player who can win after the catch, which is exactly what showed up when he turned a third reception into 25 yards with 22 of those coming after the catch.
Bernard also came close to a touchdown in the back of the end zone, absorbing a hard hit but unable to get his second foot down. He finished with 4 catches for 51 yards, all in the first half, and with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. sitting out, he was clearly the top target in the passing game.
Bernard’s role should only grow from here.
Quarterback Drew Allar made the kind of debut teams dream about from a third-round project. He scored on all three of his drives and went 9-for-12 for 154 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
The game never looked too big for him. His timing was clean, his accuracy was sharp, and even the easy throws came off smoothly.
For all the attention around the backup quarterback battle, Allar ended up stealing the show.
He wasn’t the only rookie who popped. Kaden Wetjen, drafted in the fourth round to handle return duties, was the Steelers’ leading receiver on the night.
He turned a short Drew Allar completion into a 74-yard gain that nearly became a touchdown, flashing the burst Pittsburgh was clearly banking on. Later, Allar hit Wetjen for a touchdown after the rookie created plenty of separation.
The return game didn’t produce any fireworks, but as a receiver, Wetjen turned heads.
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. kept building on what he’s shown all camp, and this time it came against live competition. He broke up a Jordan Love pass to help stall Green Bay’s opening drive, then stuck tightly to Savion Williams on the next possession and made the catch look nearly impossible. At this point, he’s looking less like a camp standout and more like a real piece of the defense, with his preseason and camp work pushing him toward more regular-season snaps.
Not everything was as clean. The first-team offensive line had a rough night while working through most of the first half.
Troy Fautanu had a tough debut at starting left tackle and was flagged twice before halftime. Dylan Cook gave up an early sack that put Mason Rudolph and the offense behind the chains.
If there was one silver lining up front, it might have been rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor, who missed the game while recovering from a shoulder/neck injury but may have opened the door a bit wider for the starting right tackle job by Week 1.
The running back situation also didn’t help Kaleb Johnson’s case. Travis Homer and Lew Nichols got touches before him, and Johnson’s two carries went for just three yards. That was the fewest touches of any Steelers running back in the game, and right now he doesn’t look like a player the team is leaning on.
Roman Wilson entered the night with a lot of momentum after a strong start to camp and injuries to DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., but that didn’t carry over into the preseason opener. He finished with one catch for seven yards.
His lone reception showed some effort, as he came back to the ball while Mason Rudolph rolled right, but it was still a quiet outing overall. Germie Bernard appeared to be the primary option for Rudolph with the first offensive group, and Wilson will have to answer that in practice this weekend.
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Drew Allar Just Gave Steelers Fans A Reason To Dream
Drew Allars first turn in a Steelers uniform gave the team something it can always use in August: a little hope. In a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, the third-round pick looked poised and accurate, handling the moment like a quarterback who understood he was more than a long-term project. Even with some footwork issues showing up, Allar kept the offense moving and gave Pittsburgh a cleaner, calmer look than teams usually expect from a young passer in his debut.
The performance stood out because it came with real production, not just tidy mechanics. Allar helped lead three touchdown drives and made his case in a way that should at least get the conversation started about what kind of ceiling he might have in this system. The questions now are less about whether the arm talent is there and more about how quickly the rest of his game can catch up, which is exactly the kind of development a team wants to monitor closely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Will Howard Just Gave Steelers Fans A Real Backup QB Reason To Watch
After missing his rookie season with a fractured thumb, Will Howard finally got his first NFL action for the Steelers against the Packers and made it look like a meaningful first step rather than a ceremonial one. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 86 yards, took a sack and helped move Pittsburgh with poise in a game situation that mattered for a backup quarterback trying to prove he belongs.
Howard also showed enough late to give the Steelers something to think about behind the starter. His first NFL hit seemed to settle him in, and he helped guide an 80-yard drive in the two-minute drill, a stretch that gave Pittsburgh a real glimpse of what the rookie can do when the pace speeds up and the pressure starts to climb. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Rookie Is Already Pushing His Way Into A Key Role
Germie Bernard wasted little time making a case for himself in Pittsburghs first preseason game, giving the Steelers some early energy against Green Bay with a first-half showing that stood out for more than just volume. The rookie wide receiver and second-round pick hauled in four passes for 51 yards, and much of the appeal came after the catch, where he showed the kind of movement and toughness that can help a young receiver earn trust quickly.
For a Steelers offense looking for answers behind its top targets, that matters. Bernard already looks like a real contender for the WR3 job, but Aaron Rodgers also pointed to the obvious next step, saying the rookie still has to get sharper with the playbook and the speed of his execution. For now, Bernard has given Pittsburgh something worth watching as camp rolls on. [Read more 🡒]