PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A number of injuries along with other notes from the Steelers 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills Saturday night.
The Steelers offense managed 219 total yards, 99 of which came in the first half as the quarterbacks combined to go 19 of 27 for 139 yards.
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“Still not what we were looking for, it was better in some areas, but still JV in others,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Still not winning enough possession downs on offense particularly early in an effort to establish rhythm and gain plays and develop personality. When you are not winning possession downs in the beginning of games, all of that gets stymied.”
Nate Herbig injury
Reported first by Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette, veteran Nate Herbig will miss time with a shoulder injury. Tomlin would only say after that game that his injury is being continually evaluated and he thinks Herbig is getting a second opinion. The 26-year-old has played 61 career NFL games (30 starts), but no game time at center, all previously at guard.
Zach Frazier started the game as he was beginning to get occasional first-team reps in practice.
“I was largely satisfied with the work that I saw from Zach,” Tomlin said.
“It felt good to be out there,” Frazier said, adding he felt comfortable. “Obviously got to be better, I’m always going to be hard on myself. Definitely had some good things and things to clean up.”
Frazier was thought to be the most NFL ready center coming out of the draft after an All-American season and 47 career starts with West Virginia.
Several left injured
The Steelers big-play running back left the game with a hamstring injury. Jaylen Warren had one carry for one yard and two receptions for 14 yards Saturday. Warren had 784 rushing yards and four touchdowns last year, while catching 61 passes for 370 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson replaced Warren in his first game action with the Steelers.
Corner Anthony Averett, who was a free agent signing from Las Vegas, previously playing four years with Baltimore, left the game in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.
A second-day pick out of NC State, linebacker Payton Wilson was the leading tackler in the Steelers first preseason game. He was alternating packages with Elandon Roberts and the first-team defense, but early in the third quarter left and was evaluated for a concussion. Wilson had a pair of tackles Saturday.
Did not play
Linebacker Alex Highsmith hasn’t practiced full for a couple of weeks, he didn’t play Saturday. TJ Watt and Cam Heyward were dressed but didn’t play. Nickel corner Beanie Bishop has been one of the talks of camp, he did not play with what Tomlin categorized as something small they don’t want to become big. Bishop suffered the injury during the joint practice between the teams on Thursday. Obviously, Nate Herbig didn’t play on offense.
Corner Donte Jackson missed most of the week of practice, but started against the Bills.
Other Notes
· The starting offensive line was Dan Moore, Junior, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Broderick Jones
· The first replacement in-game on the O-line was Spencer Anderson coming in at guard
· Bills had four sacks and Tomlin said he let the team know that was unacceptable
· QB Justin Fields was the leading rusher with 42 yards
· The longest offensive play was a 20-yard Fields rush late in the first half
· Steelers defense gave up 167 yards rushing, 123 of it in the second half
· Mitch Trubisky and Ben DiNucci combined to go 12 of 18 for 106 yards, Josh Allen didn’t play
· A rare miss from Chris Boswell, hitting the left upright on a 52-yard field goal attempt. He would make a 43-yarder for the only Steelers points.
· Maybe the Steelers player of the game—punter Cameron Johnston averaged 56.8 yards on five kicks with two inside the 20-yard-line
Away for awhile
With the first two preseason games at home, the Steelers won’t play in Acrisure Stadium again until September 22 facing the Chargers. Between now and then, a preseason game at Detroit, then regular season games at Atlanta and Denver.