The 5: Steelers to watch versus the Lions
Every week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ games, Steel City Underground will analyze the depth chart, injury reports, and key matchups against their upcoming opponent in order to point out “The 5” – Steelers players to watch.
On Sunday, August 28, the Pittsburgh Steelers will play their final NFL preseason game ahead of the 2022-23 NFL regular season as host to the Detroit Lions. The Steelers have given fans a number of things to be excited about, and some to still analyze, but look to take advantage of what is considered a final examination before the 53-man roster is determined.
After releasing quarterback Chris Oladokun, kicker Nick Sciba, running back Mateo Durant, receiver Christian Blake, safety Donovan Stiner, and linebacker Genard Avery, there remain players at key positions to give opportunities to before the coaching staff makes hard decisions on the roster.
Our initial predictions on the 53-man roster already shared, we’ll now look at five players and/or positions to keep a close eye on in the black and gold as they welcome Detroit to Pittsburgh.
The quarterbacks
No one enjoys kicking the same can down the road over and over again, but there has been a lot more to this preseason quarterback competition than even I imagined. With the way the first two preseason games turned out, especially the second one, it seems the quarterback situation is definitely not a “done deal,” especially if you paid attention to what was said this week by the players themselves.
Mitchell Trubisky, who Joe Kuzma did an in-depth piece on this week, admitted that he expected to start against the Lions, as he has started the first offensive series all preseason for the Steelers, but will he?
Trubisky seemed a bit edgy in his presser this week and said that he has wanted more in-game reps, more series’ to develop a rhythm with the offense as a whole, and inferred he didn’t get those opportunities. “I got three drives last week, we’ll see how many I get this week,” Trubisky said when talking about his own performance. “It’s been a limited sample, but I think I’ve done a lot of great things in practice, a lot of good throws in the game…”
When he was asked if he felt he’d shown the coaching staff enough to help them make him QB1, Trubisky responded that he thought he had.
“Would like to do more last game obviously, but hopefully get another opportunity to this week to show why I should be. It’s your whole body of work. Everything I’ve done in my career up to this point… all (I) can do is control today and get better from there and that’s what I’m trying to do and have a great week.”
Even Mason Rudolph seemed a little more serious in his press conference. “I said it previously in camp, I would have enjoyed to take more first-team reps, but that didn’t happen. I think I made the most of those reps I did get, and that is all you can do when you play quarterback.”
Rudolph and Kenny Pickett have done a little bit more that has generated better offensive performance and created enough buzz through the first two preseason games that it’s creating a true three-way horse race for that coveted starting spot. Against the Lions, it will once again be a focal point for fans as to who takes advantage of the snaps they’re given.
Jaylen Warren
There remain questions as to how many running backs the Steelers keep on their 53-man roster versus who will end up on the practice squad versus being cut altogether. Right now, it looks like Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland, Jr. are a step ahead in being “the guys” behind Najee Harris once the season opens, but that could change if a couple of conditions are affected in a positive way on Sunday.
Jaylen Warren has been outstanding in many areas during the preseason, practices, and training camp. There are two areas where he remains on the outside looking in, though; ball control and special teams.
When Warren fumbled in the first preseason game, head coach Mike Tomlin put him on notice that not taking care of the ball was nearly an unforgivable offense. Warren also has shown little in the way of special teams assets thus far in comparison to Snell who, as recently as last season, tied for sixth on the team in special teams tackles. McFarland also has special teams experience as a bonus.
This makes Warren an intriguing player to watch in the final preseason game. If the coaching staff gives him opportunities, he’ll need to make the most of them in order to stick on anything but the practice squad roster.
Hamilcar Rashed
With outside linebacker Alex Highsmith still working out a rib injury, Hamilcar Rashed – who came to the Steelers from the New York Jets in the middle of training camp – gets another shot to show that the Steelers should consider whether or not it is him or Derek Tuzka who grab what is likely the third outside linebacker spot on the 53-man roster.
With the importance placed on the inside linebacker position in this defense and special teams, it’s unlikely the Steelers hang on to four outside linebackers on the 53-man roster, so effort is critical to make a difference this weekend for Rashed.
The former undrafted rookie free agent out of Oregon was praised by teammate T.J. Watt. “He has good juice to him, plays the run well,” Watt said, “a good rush package as well and I think he can do some good things for us.”
Rashed worked with the first-team defense for the second consecutive day in practices this week and he has shown readiness and willingness to get up to speed, so much so that he very well may get the start opposite Watt on Sunday.
Tyler Vaughns
It’s true that, through the preseason, Vaughns leads Pittsburgh in receiving with six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. It’s also true that he’s in the mix for what is presumably six receiver spots on the 53-man roster, should the Steelers choose to carry that many.
As it stands, the Steelers currently have Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, Gunner Olszewski, Steven Sims, and Miles Boykin at receiver after Anthony Miller suffered an injury.
The question, then, is whether Vaughns has done enough to pass Boykin, the veteran who has three catches for 26 yards and has been a special teams asset, on the active roster. In my opinion, he has.
Add on the 27-yard kickoff return and Vaughns certainly looks the part of a sixth receiver. Conversely, Boykin, who has a bigger frame and more NFL experience, has shown that – at times – he hasn’t had the fight to keep defenders blocked out in order to secure the catch. A veteran can’t afford to give up opportunities if they are battling for a roster spot.
“It’s in the back of my mind,” said Vaughns about making the right impressions. “I try to come out every day, work hard, do what I can and get better at my craft every day.”
If Austin is, indeed, ready to play this weekend, I also expect fans will be wanting to see the rookie in action for the first time since suffering an injury in camp.
The defensive backfield
One area where there is going to be some debate among the coaching staff and fans is who of the safeties and cornerbacks have done the most to stay on the active roster versus the practice squad versus being cut. The Steelers have been fortunate to see some solid play in their defensive backfield this preseason. Yes, there have also been some exotic play calls thrown in as well.
On Sunday, the guys that will be worth watching are the ones truly doing everything they can to show they’re “the guy” to keep.
The Steelers picked up Elijah Riley off of waivers from the New York Jets after releasing safety Donovan Stiner, but I think he’ll get just enough of a shot to earn a practice squad spot if he has a good showing this weekend with Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Damontae Kazee, and Tre Norwood all but locking-up that position. It’s Miles Killebrew, now, who’s on the outside due to injury. Granted, Killebrew may begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which would still give Riley his best shot with Karl Joseph also suffering an injury.
The cornerbacks may be a more interesting area of focus, though. Cameron Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, Levi Wallace, Arthur Maulet, and Justin Layne look to be the early favorites to secure the 53-man roster spots. Layne has just done more with what he’s been given than James Pierre has.
