PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – All eyes on the quarterbacks, but beyond Will Howard and Drew Allar, what else did Mike McCarthy say about potential items to watch for in Friday’s second preseason game.
RB Kaleb Johnson
In the span of 15 months the Steelers 2025 third-round pick went from being the potential heir apparent at running back to getting two carries for three yards in the preseason opener and not playing any special teams.
Will Kaleb Johnson get more opportunities against the Jets?
“I hope so,” McCarthy said. “If the guy calling the plays would run the ball more, I think it'd help him out (McCarthy calls the plays). So, we'll just continue to work that way. But yeah, I mean he'll play. I mean he'll play Friday night and hopefully play a bunch up in Buffalo.”
“We really want to focus on the younger part of our team and give these guys a chance to make our squad.”
Surprise 6th rounder
No one really knew who Gabe Rubio was before the Steelers picked him in the sixth round. The defensive lineman was a back-up at Notre Dame and had his senior season interrupted by injury. Now according to some Steelers reporters, including the Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, he will make the 53-man roster after six tackles against the Packers.
“You get these rookies, you watch them go through the helmets and shells phase and through the offseason program and minicamp,” said McCarthy praising Rubio’s maturity. “It's so hard on the offensive linemen and defensive ends, so you can see he was comfortable picking things up, but boy when we got when we put the pads on, I've been real impressed with how he's taken to the technique and the teaching and how he's applying it to the game.”
“So I see him as a young guy, obviously with a lot to improve in, but I think he's really taken to the techniques that we're teaching here too, so I thought Gabe is off to a really good start.”
Swiss Navy Knife
Mt. Lebanon native Eli Heidenreich had nine carries for 21 yards against Green Bay despite missing a few days of practice before the game.
“I think the biggest thing for me with Eli, he’s missed so much time with the
injuries, so it was good to see him get out there,” McCarthy said. “He had a little more rest than we anticipated, but hopefully he'll benefit from that, get his legs back the way they were before the injury.”
So, I just want to see him take a step, get more comfortable, particularly in the run game, see the burst that he has shown on the practice field. So, I’d like to see him get more opportunity.”
Roman Wilson
The third-year receiver is one of the better performers in camp, but that’s happened before and it hasn’t translated onto a field in a game.
“I've been really impressed with Roman. I mean, yeah, he's had a heck of a spring,” McCarthy said. “I mean, he showed the diversity of playing all three spots, so that was a threshold for me to see to see him do that.”
“And let's not forget, everybody talks to him about playing in the slot and so forth. But boy, he he's a hell of a player outside the numbers out there on the Autobahn. I mean, he's had some big-time post routes for big plays, both in the spring and in the group work, the combination work and also in the team work in training camp. So, I really like the camp that he's having. I feel like I can play games with Roman in there.”
Steelers host Jets in 2nd preseason game Friday
Steelers host Jets in 2nd preseason game Friday
