Steelers Now
The last chance for Pittsburgh Steelers to make an impression on the coaching staff this preseason before the 53-man roster cuts next Tuesday happens tonight against the Carolina Panthers. But it’s an opportunity that will only apply to relatively few.
The Steelers have just one starting job that is even theoretically up for grabs, and that is the starting punter battle between Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman. The rest of the starting spots seem pretty much wrapped up. There are relatively few big backup battles, either.
At the bottom of the roster, there are a couple spots that appear to be up in the air. Players like Robert Woods and Scotty Miller, Andrus Peat and Max Scharping, Mark Robinson and Carson Bruener, and Beanie Bishop and James Pierre are still at least in some type of a competition.
For the most part, though, this is a Steelers team with relatively few decisions about what to do with the 91 players on the roster. The bigger issue might be whether those 91 are good enough.
Can another Roman Wilson performance keep Omar Khan from pulling the trigger on a wide receiver trade? Is the depth at tackle enough, or does Khan need to go fishing there? There’s still some intrigue here, but it’s not in the usual format.
Gameday: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers 7 p.m.
It’s been a largely productive training camp for the Steelers, but they have yet to show much in terms of running the ball with the first team. With tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Jaylen Warren expected to dress for the first time, we’ll get our first look at what the team’s regular-season rushing offense might look like.
The Steelers averaged 5.0 yards per carry last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that was significantly buoyed by Lew Nichols averaging 14 yards per rush against the Bucs scrubs in the fourth quarter. Nichols is the only Steelers running back to average more the four yards per carry this preseason.
The Panthers aren’t playing their starters, but one of the ares they have quality depth is on the defensive front, where the likes of A’Shawn Robinson, Boogie Basham and third-round pick Princely Umanmielen are not among the first-teamers. That should at least provide a quality look for the Steelers starting offensive line in terms of opening up holes against the run and protecting the quarterback.
The Panthers are starting Jack Plummer and only have recently signed ex-UFLer (and longtime ago Steelers rookie camp invite) Bryce Perkins behind him at quarterback. Mike Tomlin might play his entire starting secondary. There should be multiple interceptions, and just to be especially bold, I can see someone taking one to the house.
Steelers 27, Panthers 13
🏈 Steelers -4.5
🏈 Over 36.5
🏈 Both teams to score first quarter: no...
