PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – From a couple of injuries to a couple of touchdown drives. To Chris Boswell kicking to turnovers and the punting battles, all of the notes from the Steelers lone home preseason game, a 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay.
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Injuries
· Tomlin made the decision to play Nick Herbig this time, the outside linebacker suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Herbig nearly had a sack on the first third down of the game and his injury is not expected to be serious. "
· Long snapper Christian Kuntz suffered a chest injury while making a tackle on a punt return. They believe they got good news with Kuntz. He was replaced by second-year defensive lineman Logan Lee.
"I think we got some good news there, said head coach Mike Tomlin. "I certainly was pleased with the work that Logan gave us tonight. He's worked that since he's been here. Versatility helps him and it helps us."
· OT Gareth Warren is being evaluated for a concussion
Boswell good?
· He hadn’t kicked in practices recently and reportedly has asked for a restructuring of his contract making $5 million a season this year and next, Chris Boswell was not only in uniform, but booted the opening kickoff and the other two kickoffs. Ben Sauls handled the PATs and missed a 43-yard field goal from the right hash. Boswell did not talk to reporters after the game.
QB numbers
· Aaron Rodgers did not play, Mason Rudolph threw an interception on his first pass and finished 3-5, 46 yards, TD. Skylar Thompson 10-15, 113 yards, INT and a touchdown drive. Logan Woodside 4-9, 45 yards, INT.
Turnovers
· 2nd offensive play of the game for the Steelers, Mason Rudolph trying to hit Roman Wilson in the seam & Zyon McCollum stepped in front for interception
· TB got a second interception in the red zone, a ball thrown by Skylar Thompson off the hands of WR Lance McCutcheon on an out and grabbed by Kindle Vilder (you might argue there was pass interference by Vilder on the play)
· Undrafted rookie WR Max Hurleman recovered a muffed punt
· CB D’Shawn Jamison forced a fumble in the fourth quarter after a catch by Tanner Taula and recovered by S Quindell Johnson.
· QB Logan Woodside picked off by Antonio Greer which set up the game winning field goal
Little run
· In the first half the Steelers rushed for only 24 yards on nine carries-two yards on two carries by Kenneth Gainwell, 5 for 16 yards for Kaleb Johnson, a Rudolph 7-yard run and an end-of-the-half kneel down by Thompson.
Johnson 2nd half
· Those 16 yards in the first half were equalled by his first two plays of the third quarter—Johnson had runs of 9 yards, 7 yards, 9 yards and 8 yards. The rookie third-round pick finished with 11 carries overall for 50 yards.
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Longest run
· 2nd-year free agent Lew Nichols out of Central Michigan had a 37-yard run early in the fourth quarter weaving in and out of traffic.
Tackles for loss
First-round pick Derrick Harmon had the Steelers first sack of the preseason. There were several others who had tackles for loss-Juan Thornhill, Malik Harrison, Chuck Clark, D’Shawn Jamison, Quindell Johnson
Flipped receiver
· Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan made a nice third-down catch, going high over the middle in the first quarter, as he came down with the ball his legs was taken out from under him by Steelers corner Daryl Porter. McMillan landed on his head/neck and didn’t return with a back injury and potential concussion. The rookie from Washington was able to walk off the field under his own power.
Roman numerals
· The first attempt to Roman Wilson was intercepted, on the first play of the third drive, Rudolph went deep again, this one Wilson came up with for 42 yards. On his knees, he looked up to the sky with both arms out as if to say ‘finally’. Wilson finished with two catches for 72 yards.
TD drives
· After the pass to Wilson, pass interference against Brandon Johnson set the Steelers up at the two-yard line. WR Max Hurleman couldn’t come up with a bullet pass in the end zone on the first play and then Rudolph scrambled to his left and found Johnson for the Steelers score.
· 2nd TD drive was helped by a muffed punt deep in Bucs territory, Kaleb Johnson had 18 of the 21 yards with RB Trey Sermon finishing with a one-yard run right side.
Punting battle
· Cam Johnston’s first punt was only 33 yards, but it pinned Tampa Bay down at the 11-yard line. Second punt was 45 yards and Tampa called for a fair catch at their own 7. Third was 49 yards. He averaged 42.3 yards.
· Corliss Waitman had a 60-yard punt, followed by a 50-yarder which was helped by the receiver calling a fair catch and allowing it to bounce for extra yards. Third punt, the punt returner let it bounce, then tried to control it and fumbled the ball to the Steelers. He averaged 58 yards per kick
Starters missing
· QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, WR Calvin Austin (injury), G Isaac Seumalo, TE Pat Freiermuth, TE Jonnu Smith, RB Jaylen Warren, DL Cam Heyward, OLB TJ Watt, OLB Alex Highsmith (injury), LB Patrick Queen, CB Joey Porter, CB Darius Slay, DB Jalen Ramsey, S DeShon Elliott