Turning the Page: Looking Back on the Preseason Finale and Looking Ahead to the Regular Season

Preseason has finally commenced! 2025 kickoff is right around the corner, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. I try not to wish away my summer, but football season is the best season there is. With that being said, there was a lot to take away from the Steelers preseason finale against the Panthers. Now that roster cuts have been made and the first official 53-man rosters have been released, there are things to discuss looking ahead to the regular season as well. Let’s get to it!

Looking Back on the Preseason Finale Against the Panthers

• A lot can be said, good and bad, about the Steelers’ performance this past Thursday night. If I’m being honest, a lot of it was not good. The game was sloppy, particularly through the first quarter. Pittsburgh’s opening drive was stalled several times by penalties before ending in a Mason Rudolph interception. The penalty bug continued for the Steelers throughout the night, and the team earned themselves a total of 13 penalties. Defensively, there was a slew of missed tackles, including one by Joey Porter, Jr. and another by safety Chuck Clark. It was certainly a rough start to say the least. Losing Derrick Harmon to an MCL sprain in this contest was also not ideal. The last thing any team wants is for players to be injured in the preseason, especially their top draft pick who is expected to be a day 1 starter.
• As the game continued, aside from the penalties, performance seemed to improve slightly. There were bright spots, including another great performance from Skylar Thompson. He went 11 for 13 on completions through the air for 152 yards and a touchdown. While he got the most time at quarterback for Pittsburgh throughout the preseason, he took full advantage of his opportunities, and he looked great throughout.
• Rookie kicker Ben Sauls, while not securing a job in Pittsburgh, was 4/4 on his field goal attempts. The longest make was 50 yards. A solid kicker in college for the Pittsburgh Panthers, I’m hopeful for the guy to get his shot in the NFL. He put out some great tape on Thursday that likely helped him to accomplish that.
• How about Yahya Black and his TWO sacks this week?! The big man was getting after it, and that was really encouraging to see from the 5th round pick.
• While he was a player likely on the chopping block coming into the game, DE DeMarvin Leal put a lot of effort into his performance in this one. He recorded 3 total tackles, but I felt like he was constantly in on plays while watching the game live. While ultimately his tape was not enough to secure a roster spot, it was a valiant effort.
• The Steelers were not short on running back depth this preseason at all. This week, 3rd round pick Kaleb Johnson again averaged over 4 yards per carry. Trey Sermon showed a flash, ripping off a 30 yard run and averaging just under 10 yards per carry. Lew Nichols and Max Hurleman also made their cases for a roster spot over these last few weeks. This production created a problem, as unfortunately there were not enough roster spots for all of these men. However, it was a good problem to have.
• Scotty Miller, a gentleman who did make the 53-man roster, played a great game. He reeled in 3 catches on the night for 82 yards. Given his familiarity with Arthur Smith, it makes sense that he made the cut. However, I think he can bring some leadership and experience to the WR room again this year. While he’s a small guy and doesn’t have the reputation or physical gifts of someone like DK Metcalf, he is a reliable target who also has playoff experience and a Super Bowl ring.

Looking Ahead to the Regular Season

• I must say that I am more excited for Steelers football this season than I have been in years. Why? Because of all the changes made this offseason. I will always support the team, and the fall will always be my favorite season because that means football is back. However, the past few years have been difficult to stomach. Sure, the regular season records were respectable. Not once were the Steelers even close to being the laughing stock of the NFL. It definitely felt monotonous, though. Watching a talented defense can be difficult to enjoy when their offensive counterparts are chronically underproducing. The worst part was that it often felt like the team was just going through the motions and was content with the “status quo”. This offseason was different. The Steelers made some splashes in free agency. They made a big-time trade to bring DK Metcalf to town. The quarterback room was completely flipped. The defensive line was finally addressed early in the draft. The list goes on and on, but all these moves can be summarized simply: Pittsburgh is taking a different approach, and the team feels like it has a new energy. Whether the 2025 Steelers will be able to make a deep playoff run remains to be seen. Right now, though, regardless of the outcome of 2025, I don’t care. I’m simply enjoying the fact that Omar Khan and company are taking a different approach. Insanity, according to Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Pittsburgh is not doing the same old thing this season, and the idea of a result other than a wild card round exit has breathed new life into this Steelers fan.
• Up to this point, Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf still have not taken the field. I’m ready to see what this duo can bring to the Steelers offense. Now two years removed from his Achilles injury, can Rodgers remain healthy and productive? What will the on-field chemistry be like between these two men? It’s been too long since there was an elite WR in black and gold. I think Metcalf is more than capable of filling that role, and I can’t wait for his first touchdown as a Steeler.
• I feel like I’m beating a dead horse talking about this again, but the offensive line really is integral to Pittsburgh’s offensive success. As the season progresses, it’ll be important to see how the offensive line grows together as a unit. If they can play well, Rodgers has a chance at staying healthy through the season. It will also only help Kaleb Johnson and Jaylen Warren be productive on the ground. If they don’t play well? The moves made this offseason with skill position players might all be for not. The line’s play truly is that important.
• While an MCL sprain is not ideal to sustain, especially in the preseason, Derrick Harmon could have received worse news. Here’s to wishing him the best in his recovery. I will absolutely be paying attention to this guy when he’s healthy again. It’s not every day the Steelers give a rookie the chance to start on day 1, but they gave that chance to Harmon. That says a lot!

What are your thoughts? Feel free to join the discussion below!