The 5: Steelers to watch on road against Panthers
Every week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ games, Steel City Underground analyzes the depth chart, injury reports, and key matchups against their upcoming opponent in order to point out “The 5” – Steelers players to watch.
In Week 15 of the 2022 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in the road against the Carolina Panthers. Following last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, injuries will dictate some changes to the Steelers’ roster. The biggest change is who will be under center but there are also other areas of the roster that may see adjustments. Here are our five Steelers to watch on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium:
The QBs: Kenny, Mitch, and Mason
The last time Steelers fans had as much discussion about the quarterback position in Pittsburgh as they have this week was as training camp was winding down and preseason games were underway.
After rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered his second concussion of the season, following a nasty tackle in Week 14, Mitchell Trubisky‘s performance was a debacle; his three interceptions were catastrophic. Regardless, there were fans who chose sides; many were in the keep Trubisky camp despite the outing, and others that were ready to have the season end if Pickett couldn’t play.
The camp that remains on the fence are those who still aren’t convinced they can get behind Mason Rudolph, who is in consideration as the starter against the Panthers, despite numerous presentations made by Steel City Underground in response to fan reactions.
Related content:
- We haven’t seen everything Mason Rudolph has to offer: here’s why
- Does it even matter who plays QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday against the Panthers?
The fact that head coach Mike Tomlin was taking the approach of seeing what stands out in practice before making a decision on who will take snaps at quarterback didn’t sit well with many fans. Whether it’s due to their fantasy football rosters or just a general sense of doom and gloom that Pickett may not be game-ready, Steelers fans are unsettled.
“We’ll play both guys in a practice setting in an effort to make a determination what’s best…” – Mike Tomlin
Pickett hasn’t been ruled completely ‘out’ of potentially being available on Sunday. Would the Steelers organization lean on caution and have him sit, instead? It appears they’re prepared to do so. In the long term, that may be a decision that protects the team’s future – even if fans want a run to the postseason… right… now.
“Both (Mason and Mitch) have remained engaged. It’s really been two and two-A,” Tomlin said of Rudolph and Trubisky. “When you’ve got veteran backups, guys with a cumulative body of work, particularly in Mason’s case, having been exposed to us and having been here, the receivers he would work with and all of those things, often times, you’re calling on past experience as a catalyst for how you move forward.”
Regardless of who does get the nod on Sunday, their performance will be one under a microscope.
DeMarvin Leal / Jonathan Marshall
There were issues that needed to be addressed after the Ravens pushed the Steelers around in the trenches and ran the ball on them with relative ease last week.
With Chris Wormley suffering an injury that requires surgery, the Steelers signed Jonathan Marshall to the 53-man roster from the New York Jets’ practice squad. The former 2021 sixth-rounder played in just four games last season with the Jets.
Whether Marshall sees snaps on defense remains to be seen with DeMarvin Leal, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Montravius Adams, Tyson Alualu, and Larry Ogunjobi all on the roster. The injury report may dictate his use on Sunday, however.
T.J. Watt has not recovered 100 percent from a rib injury suffered after returning from a pectoral injury and knee procedure, Ogunjobi still has an injured toe (although he hasn’t missed games), and linebacker Myles Jack has a groin injury.
There is likely to be some shuffling on the defensive line. Granted, Watt is an ‘edge’ that Leal has, at times, been asked to sub-in for on certain packages. A lineman isn’t going to be asked to drop into Jack’s position, but Pittsburgh may want to put their healthiest guys in the heart of the line to prevent the Panthers from running the ball, helping the second-level linebackers like Jack.
Marshall is an interior line guy. It makes sense that they utilize his services to free-up Leal should he need to move to the end of the line opposite Cameron Hayward, especially if Ogunjobi is a liability.
Zach Gentry
Typically, it’s Pat Freiermuth that comes up when we’re discussing the Steelers’ tight end position. This week, Freiermuth is dealing with a foot injury. Whether it affects his availability remains to be seen.
Pittsburgh could use a boost in its receiving totals, however, and the Panthers would be a good team to utilize more tight end plays against.
Gentry is utilized primarily as a ‘blocking end’ in the Steelers offensive scheme. The converted quarterback caught 32 passes for 514 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan. He’s made some nice catches for the Steelers.
Gentry is a big target; hard to miss. He could provide a viable option in both blocking to get the run game going and receiving on crossing routes to spread Carolina’s defense.
