Throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason, many have seen the various roster battles taking place on the team. The three competing quarterbacks—Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph–have all had their fair share of playing time. The receiver’s battle is on, with many depth guys fighting for the last few spots. And, the running backs committee is still looking for two dependable backups behind Najee Harris. Cuts to a 53-man roster will soon be made, with just one preseason game and three weeks left until the first game. Fortunately, some of the decisions have been made easier due to sound performances and unfortunately injuries.
Pittsburgh Steelers Hammering Down Roster Battles
Battle of the Quarterbacks
Mitchell Trubisky is the clear front runner for QB1 but no official announcements have been made. He has the most NFL starting experience out of all three and made the playoffs twice with the Bears behind Matt Nagy. He has taken first-team reps all of camp and in both preseason games. Trubisky has only played in four drives but has completed nine of 15 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Usually, the starter takes only a couple reps and is pulled, which indicates he is the likely starter.
But the biggest buzz has been around rookie Kenny Pickett. He struggled early in camp but has since picked it up. In fact, he has statistically been the best quarterback for Pittsburgh in the preseason. He is 19 of 22 for 171 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters played. He hasn’t taken many deep shots but looks comfortable in the pocket. Pickett is definitely the franchise guy but it is probably not his time yet; fortunately, he is likely going to find himself as the backup for the duration of the 2022 season.
Finally, Mason Rudolph is making a case but I feel his time in Pittsburgh is up. He led the game-winning touchdown drive in the game against Jacksonville and had very nice stats. He went 17 of 21 for 127 yards and a touchdown. But, he has had a fair share of opportunities and still doesn’t look an NFL-caliber starter. There are also some rumors that he could be traded soon, so that’s something to watch for.
Whatever the starting decision/depth chart may be, it is unlikely that the Steelers retain three guys on the active roster. This could mean someone (likely Mason Rudolph) will be traded or sent to the practice squad (likely ending in his release/waive).
The Search for Najee Harris’ Backups
The running backs room originally looked crowded with talent, but now it is down to just a few guys. There are really only three guys left, and they are competing for two spots. Benny Snell and Anthony MacFarland are the veterans on the roster, but one of them probably won’t make it. MacFarland’s speed and Snell’s dual-threat ability highlight their talents, but inconsistency over the years has harmed both. Jaylen Warren has emerged this camp and has so far played well. He seems to be more consistent than both veterans and has a mix of both of their talents. He will probably be the RB2 behind Harris and could see a decent volume of carries.
My guess is that MacFarland is retained as the RB3, primarily because of his speed and his use in other aspects of the game. He is used in several packages and the special teams game so he could get a boost there.
Two guys who had chances of making the team before suffering season-ending injuries were Jeremy McNichols and Master Teague. McNichols served as Derrick Henry’s backup for a few years and could have been a dependable option in the backfield. Teague served as the RB1 and RB2 at Ohio State and was a productive power runner. He was having a pretty great camp for getting injured. Neither of these guys will be making the team this year but could definitely see some chances next year.
A Crowded Receiver Room, with Just 6-7 Survivors
Most Spots Already Locked Up
Making the cuts for the wide receiver room will have to be Pittsburgh’shardest decision. There are currently ten receivers vying for a spot on the Steelers offense. Starters Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, along with rookies George Pickens and Calvin Austin, are all near-locks to make the team. Gunner Olszewski will likely take the fifth spot, as well as handle the punt/kick return duties.
Most importantly, the Steelers will only want to retain six guys at the position (potentially a seventh, but unlikely). It is the standard number for nearly all teams, and the Steelers have stuck to that number for quite some time in order to supply depth at other positions.
Unfortunately, this isn’t great news to Miles Boykin, Steven Sims, Tyler Snead, Tyler Vaughns, or Cody White. All of these guys have shown they can play during the team’s preseason wins but are on “the bubble.”
Making Cases for the Remaining Guys
Veterans Vying for a Spot
Boykin, an ex-Ravens receiver, is entering his fourth NFL season. He has seven career touchdowns paired with about 500 yards through three seasons in Baltimore. He has the most NFL experience out of this bubble group but has yet to show much in 40 career games. At this point, it is hard to tell if Boykin will make the roster, but I’d lean towards yes given his experience.
Steven Sims is the other veteran on this list who has played multiple NFL seasons. With Washington, Sims amassed just under 600 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons (40 games). But with Sims, it’s his dual-threat ability that gives him an edge. With Washington, he had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has just three catches in the preseason but has two carries for 49 yards; one of those went for 38 against Seattle, while his 11-yard rush was the longest of the game for the Steelers against Jacksonville. These two guys have the highest chances of rounding out the depth chart, but there are still the three others who all have a case.
New Players Looking for NFL Experience
Both Snead and Vaughns are entering their first seasons. Snead went undrafted in 2022 and was later signed, while Vaughns signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a UDFA in 2021 but never made it past the practice squad. Snead, a standout at ECU, has five receptions and a touchdown (the game-winning score from Rudolph against the Jags). He doesn’t have much of a reputation so he probably will stay on the practice squad or not make the team at all. Vaughns has been a stud so far, totaling six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in two games. Both guys have cases to make the team but likely will not just yet.
Vets With Injuries/Issues
Cody White was on the Steelers last year and had just five catches. A few things have held him back this camp but he has a 50-50 shot at cracking the team. It is unclear how much faith the Steelers have in him, so he could be passed up if Pittsburgh chooses a few of the other guys. Anthony Miller would have made the team but he suffered a season-ending injury. He played with Trubisky in Chicago for several years so they have a connection. Unfortunately, he will stay on the team’s reserve/IR list for all of 2022.
