Steelers Now
CHARLOTTE — Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Ben Sauls will probably be a roster cut, but he very well could have earned a spot on another clubs roster with his performance in Thursday night’s 19-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Sauls was a perfect 4 of 4 on field goal attempts, converting from 38, 50, 49 and 28 yards out. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave the former Pitt Panther a shoutout in his postgame interview.
“Really happy for Ben Sauls. The work he was able to show us tonight, man, good for him,” Tomlin said.
Sauls was 1 of 1 on field goal attempts (a 36-yarder) and 4 of 4 on extra points in the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sauls’ only miss in the preseason was a 43-yard field goal attempt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it wasn’t his fault, as the laces were not out on the snap from Logan Lee, who was filling in for the injured Christian Kuntz.
Overall, Sauls was 5 of 6 on field goal attempts and 7 of 7 on extra points in the preseason. Sauls credits the veterans specialists on the Steelers for showing him the ropes.
“To have guys who have been there and done that for years. I mean, the age gap. I think the second youngest is 30, maybe 31. I just turned 24 a couple of weeks ago. I am a breath of fresh air for these guys. But they’ve been there, they’ve done that,” Sauls told Steelers sideline reporter Missi Matthews after the game.
“They reassure me on the field. And to have them with me this whole way. That’s why we just got a silly picture of us. Because I really appreciate what they’ve done for me. And they really took me in and showed me the ropes. So I’m looking forward to that relationship further.”
Sauls, who starred at Pitt, was one of the top options at his position heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. While he did not get selected, it did not take long for the next-door neighbors the Steelers to scoop him up.
In 2024, Sauls connected on 21 of 24 field goals and a perfect 44 of 44 on extra points. He was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-American team and a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist.
Overall, Sauls finished his Pitt career hitting on 52 of 64 field-goal attempts, while averaging 63 yards per kickoff.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Charlotte.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers K Ben Sauls Turns Heads in Win over Panthers
