Mike Tomlin outlines Steelers who will, and won’t, play vs. Tampa Bay
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be preparing for their second game of the 2025 preseason Saturday night when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 of the exhibition season. With the only home game of the preseason also coincides with players who will, and won’t, be in the lineup for a variety of reasons. Thursday Mike Tomlin met with the media prior to practice and discussed players who will not be playing based on experience and not willing to risk injury in a preseason game.
As reported by Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com, the list of players who are not playing is lengthy:
Mike Tomlin says he will play this game like he did during the first game.
Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Patrick Queen and others will not play against Tampa Bay.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) August 14, 2025
The list of players who didn’t play in Week 1, and aren’t expected to play Saturday night:
- QB Aaron Rodgers
- WR DK Metcalf
- TE Jonnu Smith
- TE Pat Freiermuth
- OG Isaac Seumalo
- RB Jaylen Warren
- CB Joey Porter Jr.
- CB Darius Slay
- CB Jalen Ramsey
- S DeShon Elliott
- ILB Patrick Queen
- DL Cam Heyward
- OLB T.J. Watt
- OLB Nick Herbig
The only change to the aforementioned list is that of OLB Nick Herbig. According to Tomlin, depending on how much work he gets in the team’s joint practice Thursday will determine if he plays vs. the Buccaneers Saturday.
This per Brooke Pryor of ESPN:
Mike Tomlin says the same group that was held out in the first preseason game vs. Jags will be held out vs. Bucs, too.
Although, he noted, he may have Nick Herbig play some depending on how much work he gets in the joint practice.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 14, 2025
Tomlin also said during the press conference if players are healthy they will play vs. the Buccaneers, which opens the door for a player like Ryan McCollum who has missed over a week of camp but is easing his way back into the lineup to potentially play. Most of those types of decisions will be game-time decisions.
As for the Buccaneers, it is unknown at this time who will play Saturday night for Tampa Bay. Like Tomlin, there is a good chance they let their joint practice dictate just how many starters will see time, and how much time they’ll spend on the field.
These things can change, so be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Buccaneers this Saturday night in Pittsburgh. For more information, check out the Mike Tomlin Press Conference Recap Podcast below:
I wonder how this list contrasts with whom is playing for Pgh in today’s scrimmage with the Buccaneers, which must be currently in progress as I type this–but not on my TV, for a change.
Anybody else slightly concerned that the projected starting O Line won’t take a snap together in the first two preseason games?
Nah. They’re gonna get a lot more out of the joint practice than they would a very generic preseason game.