Mike Tomlin outlines the Steelers who won’t play vs. the Jaguars Saturday

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be starting their 2025 preseason Saturday night when they travel to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 of the exhibition season. With that trip to Florida 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.

That list includes:

• 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

This per Brooke Pryor of ESPN:

Not playing vs. Jacksonville (not injury related): Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, ISasac Seumalo, Jaylen Warren, JPJ, Slay, Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, Patrick Queen, Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, Nick Herbig

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 7, 2025

There was also a list of players who will not be suiting up, but because they are nursing an injury. That list would include:

• Alex Highsmith (groin)
• Calvin Austin III (undisclosed)
• Donte Kent (foot/ankle)
• Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring)

This is also from Brooke Pryor of ESPN:

Alex Highsmith, Calvin Austin III, Donte Kent and Cory Trice likely will not play vs. Jacksonville because of injury

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 7, 2025

Who the Steelers are playing has been clearly laid out by Tomlin, but what about the Jaguars? First year head coach Liam Coen could choose to rest his starters, similar to Tomlin, or he could try and see what he has in the team’s first exposure to game action with him as the head coach.

Coen also met with the media prior to this week’s game and said he does plan on playing his starters, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence and 1st Round pick WR/CB Travis Hunter, in the game Saturday night.

This per Cameron Wolfe:

Jaguars HC Liam Coen says his starters including QB Trevor Lawrence and WR/CB Travis Hunter will play Saturday in preseason opener vs. Steelers.

Hunter will play both CB and WR during the game. Unicorn NFL debut. pic.twitter.com/jVVNaWWLPf

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 7, 2025

These things can change, so be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they wrap up training camp and prepare for the Jaguars this Saturday night in Jacksonville. For more information, check out the Mike Tomlin Press Conference Recap Podcast below: