PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We projected the 53-man roster before the preseason opener, now a look at how some of the battles are progressing with the second preseason game hosting the Jets on Friday.
Quarterback
There is still a battle if the Steelers are only keeping three quarterbacks, which when you look at other roster battles, seems a long shot. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Allar are still locks.
Mason Rudolph (with 1st team) 10-11, 93 yards, no touchdowns or turnovers, 101.9 rating vs. Green Bay. Had a drive to the one-yard line that was stopped on a fourth-down pass.
Will Howard (with 2nd team) 7-9, 86 yards, no touchdowns or turnovers, 106.5 rating vs. GB. Howard had what was originally called a touchdown to tight end Robert Tonyan, but overturned by replay.
McCarthy said he’s seen enough from Rudolph to even play him Friday night, Howard will start. What does he do with it?
Still too early to call.
Running back
When Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle don’t play, it’s Travis Homer getting the first reps. Homer is also involved in all facets of special teams, including being the personal protector (or QB calling out signals) on the first-team punt unit.
Lew Nichols has had a good camp and can play kick units. He led the Steelers with 36 yards on 10 carries in the preseason opener. Kaleb Johnson rushed only two times for three yards against the Packers and doesn’t play on kick coverage. Rooke Eli Heidenreich missed a few days of practice due to injury and had nine carries for 21 yards and is the second-team personal protector on punt units.
If they keep only three, it’s Homer’s job to lose.
Tight End
You could make the argument as camp started with fullback Riley Nowakowski’s position flexibility, you could keep two tight ends, but Bobby Tonyan is making a strong push. Praised by Rodgers, McCarthy and others, he’s turned into a weapon who can also play special teams. It’s not that he’s a lock, but quickly carving out a role.
Offensive line
How many do you keep? In the original projection 10 offensive linemen were active. It’s unlikely first-round pick Max Iheanachor plays Friday. There is still time before the first game, but of your first two backup tackles-one is currently hurt (Iheanachor) and the other is still coming back from a major neck injury (Broderick Jones). Can you keep them as the only back-up tackles? You won’t cut third-round pick Gennings Dunker. Brock Hoffman makes the team, do you also keep back-up center Ryan McCollum? Doug Nestor has been around the team a couple of years, does he remain on the active roster as an emergency tackle?
Iheanachor, Hoffman and Dunker are locks. Broderick Jones could start the season on injured reserve, still an opportunity there. I can’t imagine them keeping any fewer than nine.
Fullback and wide receiver
No real battles here, Nowakowski is the only fullback and with Brandon Smith’s injury, there isn’t really a competition. Although it’s worth watching rookie Kaden Wetjen, McCarthy was critical of his inability to get in the end zone on the long reception and also of sloppy route-running at time. A fourth-round pick this year, it wouldn’t be unprecedented for the Steelers to release Wetjen, but another chance with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman likely out to show progress.
Defensive line
Five are automatic (Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black and Sebastian Joseph-Day), although Joseph-Day has been hurt for a week-plus and a chance he could start on injured reserve, although that’s not expected. There are a pair of vets battling if they keep six—still too early to call between Dean Lowry and Esezi Otomewo (both have been solid in camp). Second on the team in tackles last Thursday, if Gabriel Rubio has another big game on Friday does that give him a roster spot.
Outside linebacker
No competition, set with its four. What is worth watching is Jamin Davis was disruptive in his time on the field. A second big game, considering his abilities to play special teams, could make it interesting.
Inside linebacker
The return of veteran Elandon Roberts makes this much more interesting. Roberts impact was immediately felt from a physicality standpoint and as McCarthy said after the signing, he has the immediate respect of his teammates. We know Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb and Carson Bruener will make the team. Malik Harrison is way on the outside looking in and if they keep five middle linebackers, can you keep four quarterbacks?
Cornerbacks
Joey Porter, Junior and Jalen Ramsey won’t play, but are obviously on the roster. Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel, Junior, Brandin Echols and rookie Daylen Everette are on the roster. Doneiko Slaughter had a good final practice in Latrobe and D’Shawn Jamison has gotten a number of reps. They would have to be unreal to break onto roster consideration, barring injury.
Safeties
Three are locks (DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, rookie Robert Spears-Jennings) with the outside potential Ramsey could play some safety again this season after playing there for the first time last year. Several are competing from Jack Henderson, Devan Boykin, Israel Mukuamu, Rayshawn Jenkins, Sebastian Castro. It might be the most wide-open battle for one, maybe two roster spots, Jenkins has played 139 NFL games.
Sure, there is the quarterback battle, but as you watch Bob Pompeani, Charlie Batch and Missi Matthews Friday on KDKA-TV at 7p, know there are several other positions where spots are up for grabs.
Broken down by position, who is on the line to make this roster
Broken down by position, who is on the line to make this roster
