Steelers Now
As the Pittsburgh Steelers head into training camp, several positions remain up for grabs behind the established starters. From quarterback depth to wide receiver hierarchy, these competitions could shape the final roster and possibly the regular season rotation. Here are four of the most compelling battles to follow in Latrobe.
Mason Rudolph enters camp as the expected backup to Aaron Rodgers, and for good reason. The veteran brings experience, familiarity with the system, and a steady hand if called upon. Originally drafted by the Steelers in 2018, Rudolph has proven to be a capable spot starter, including a key stretch in 2023 that helped Pittsburgh reach the postseason.
Still, rookie Will Howard presents an intriguing challenge. At six-foot-five with sneaky mobility and a championship pedigree from Ohio State, Howard has the physical tools and leadership qualities teams covet. Though drafted in the sixth round, his leadership, frame, and toughness give him long-term upside.
Rudolph is clearly the more ready option right now, but if Howard adapts quickly to the speed of the NFL during camp, this could evolve into a legitimate competition.
Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni has confirmed that Calvin Austin III enters camp as the team’s number two receiver, and that’s no surprise. Austin’s speed, shiftiness, and ability to create mismatches from the slot have been on display in spurts over the last two seasons.
However, Roman Wilson could bring some heat to that spot. A second-year player with a slightly bigger frame than Austin, Wilson fits a similar archetype as a speedy, undersized field-stretcher. He was also a higher draft pick, which suggests the team believes in his long-term ceiling. His rookie year was derailed by injury and limited action, but the traits that made him dynamic at Michigan are still there.
If Wilson puts it together in camp and stays healthy, he could push Austin for that WR2 role by the end of the
Jaylen Warren has earned a reputation as one of the league’s most underrated backs. He runs with power, grit, and explosive short-area burst, thriving in late-down situations and carving out a vital role behind Najee Harris. With Harris now gone in free agency, Warren is expected to step into the lead back role.
But Kaleb Johnson, a third-round pick out of Iowa, could have something to say about that. Johnson is a one-cut, downhill runner with excellent vision, tailor-made for Arthur Smith’s zone-based run game. His physical style and decisiveness should translate well to the pro level.
The lead job is Warren’s for now, but if Johnson picks up the offense quickly and proves reliable in pass protection, he could earn significant touches, or even challenge for the starting job outright.
Patrick Queen is locked in as the starting inside linebacker, but the spot next to him remains open. Payton Wilson enters training...
