Steelers Preseason Week 3 Checklist Review

The Steelers wrapped up their preseason with a 19-10 victory over the Panthers in what was a true preseason-style game from both sides. There were turnovers, sloppy play, and an overall lack of energy once the Steelers’ defensive starters exited after the first quarter. As I mentioned before, I’m going to review the initial checklist I put together prior to the matchup and see whether the team managed to hit any of the goals I set out.

Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones Continue To Build

The first goal was to have the young first-round tackles continue their solid preseason form in their last few drives of live action before they take on the Jets in East Rutherford in Week One. Looking at the raw numbers, it was a limited sample size from a pass-blocking standpoint with just 10 total snaps. In those snaps, Troy Fautanu was once again flawless and genuinely looks like a superstar in the making. His explosiveness off the ball combined with his near-flawless technique continues to stand out.

Jones, on the other hand, has certainly looked much more comfortable compared to his sophomore film, which was far from good. Against the Panthers, he was once again solid by the numbers, allowing just one hurry while picking up several individual wins of his own. The takeaway here is that both of the Steelers’ big investments on the bookends of the line leave this preseason looking far more settled in their roles, which will be crucial not just for the team’s success this year but also for the ongoing rebuild as the franchise aims to build around their new signal caller, who should be coming in the 2026 draft.

Target: Reached

Every Troy Fautanu OL snap vs. Panthers (preseason Week 3)#Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/FhNRW6Hgy9

— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) August 22, 2025

Roman Wilson Flashes Once Again

Roman Wilson has also been a player who put together a strong second half of training camp and carried that into the first two preseason games, where he was often featured as the number one wideout when on the field. In this matchup, however, he played 19 total snaps and saw no targets come his way, unlike the earlier games where there was a concerted effort to get him the ball early and often.

The biggest positive from Wilson this week came from his blocking efforts. Coming out of college, everyone knew he was willing to put his body on the line in the run game, but there were concerns about his size transitioning to the NFL. After a camp focused on conditioning and getting his body NFL-ready, Wilson showed plenty of willingness to deliver crucial blocks in the run game and more than held his own.

Based on the lack of production through the air, I can’t tick this goal off as being completed, but there were still important positives to take away from Wilson’s performance.

Target: Missed

Why do the Steelers feel good about Roman Wilson as their WR2 heading into the season? 🤔

Here’s a big reason why: ⬇️

Kid’s not afraid to put his face in the fan as a run blocker. Arthur Smith loves this shit.
pic.twitter.com/L1DzSCyeOm

— Jack Sperry (@jack_sperry) August 23, 2025

A clean Bill of Health

The last goal was a very brief one, and that was to be healthy entering the new season. There was, however, a blip on the radar when Derrick Harmon was carted off the field in tears with what was reported as a knee injury. For many fans in Steeler Nation, panic set in as it looked like the first-round pick’s season might be over before it even began, with many fearing a torn ACL. After a long wait for an update, there was some relief when Harmon was spotted on the sidelines laughing with veterans T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. That positive sign was later backed up by reports the next day confirming it was an MCL sprain, likely keeping him out for only a limited to moderate period of time.

While the result was far better than first feared, potentially losing a young starter for the first three to four weeks of the season still means this goal was missed.

Target: Missed

About a month takes Harmon through Week 3.

He could maybe make a return in Ireland.

Or the Steelers can put him on short term IR to start and then he returns after the Week 5 bye. https://t.co/q5MzqINhMi

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) August 22, 2025

Overall, the preseason can be viewed as a success. The team avoided losing any key contributors for an extended period of time, and many of the questions we had coming in were answered in one way or another. So, for the last time before we switch over to a checklist for some real football, drop your thoughts down below on the Steelers’ final preseason outing. Let me know if you think I hit or missed the mark in reviewing our Week 3 checklist.