Steelers Now
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Steelers did not play very many of their starters in the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, and the starters that did play, and the backups that replaced them didn’t do a whole lot.
But the Steelers’ depth came through, with fourth-string quarterback Skylar Thompson throwing three touchdowns to lead the Steelers to a 31-25 victory.
With Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Jaylen Warren on the sideline, Mason Rudolph took a makeshift first-team offense right down the field for an opening-drive score.
On the Steelers’ first offensive drive, Rudolph completed passes to Roman Wilson (19 yards), Ben Skowronek (3 yards), Brandon Johnson (5 yards), Scotty Miller (5 yards), Robert Woods (5 yards) and then went up the seam to Darnell Washington for a 19-yard touchdown.
Darnell Washington scores the @Steelers' first TD of the preseason 😤
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— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2025
Rudolph finished a hyper-efficient 9 of 10 for 84 yards and one touchdown, maintaining a 135 passer rating. He was sacked just once, a coverage sack by Dawuane Smoot where he probably should’ve thrown the ball away. That was the only blemish against a starting offensive line that did have four of five first-teamers in uniform.
Rudolph and the ersatz starters got just two drives before giving way to the far reaches of the depth chart for the rest of the game.
On defense, even less of the regular first-team unit was available, with only Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Payton Wilson and Juan Thornhill taking any snaps at all. All but Harmon lasted just one drive.
Trevor Lawrence led most of the Jaguars starters in that drive, which stalled after an offensive penalty and resulted in a field goal. Lawrence finished 6 of 7 for 43 yards.
Jacksonville managed just three field goals in the first half, the third of which was a record-breaking 70-yard behemoth from Cam Little. In the second half, the Steelers defense finally gave up a touchdown, with Jacksonville backup Nick Mullins finding Trenton Irwin in front of James Pierre at the goal line.
Thompson’s unit did most of the heavy lifting for the Steelers. In the second quarter, he hit undrafted rookie Max Hurleman for a long completion up the seam between two defenders to set Pittsburgh up with a first-and-goal, and then went right back to Hurleman for the touchdown a play later.
In the third quarter, he got the team’s other undrafted free agents at the wide receiver position involved, finding Ke’Shawn Williams for a big gain on a third-and long to keep a drive moving that set up a Thompson to Trey Sermon touchdown. Later, Thompson got Roc Taylor involved, setting up a Ben Sauls field goal.
Thompson connected with Williams again on a picture-perfect 27-yard route up the right seam for another score.
He said GIMME THAT 😤 @key13williams
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