The Pittsburgh Steelers open up their first preseason game this year with a matchup against the Houston Texans on Friday. Though most starters will not play a significant amount of snaps in the contest, preseason games are immensely important for the young players to see real action. It also gives fringe guys on the roster an opportunity to earn their way onto the 53-man roster or practice squad for a chance to play in Pittsburgh this season.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Van Jefferson catches a ball during OTAs.
Training camp is where these roster spot battles begin, as the team will wish to lock down it's starting lineup before camp ends in Latrobe. Several players have worked to make names for themselves in the Black and Gold like Justin Fields and Van Jefferson, but all eyes have been on a Steelers rookie class that featured three new offensive linemen, and the impact they can have in solidifying a weakness the team has had for several seasons.
In his weekly Steelers chat, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, named one of these rookies as someone that has impressed him with several great performances during training camp.
"Mason McCormick, their rookie guard, looks really good... tough, moves people, moves well."
Dulac went on to mention another new face in Pittsburgh this season who has been making plays. If not for the team having a substantial amount of depth at the position, the Steelers would keep him on the 53-man roster.
"RB Jonathan Ward has looked especially good, but I don't think there's a roster spot for him."
Neither McCormick or Ward are expected to see time as starters this season with James Daniels and Najee Harris listed above the two respectively on the depth chart. McCormick has a slightly easier path to starting than Ward as Daniels enters into the final year of his three-year $26.5 million contract with the Steelers in 2024, earning him a spot as the second string starter. Playing well in the preseason games could provide the Steelers with confidence to move on from Daniels prior to the end of the season, but barring an injury, it's more likely that he will wait for 2025 to compete for the job.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Troy Fautanu (76) and Mason McCormick (66) work out during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2024.
Ward is stuck at arguably the deepest position on the Steelers' roster at running back. Behind Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson, Wards' two best options at making the roster are on special teams or by beating out the other bubble backs on the roster and sneak on as the fourth stringer. The Steelers could look at Patterson as a pure special teams player which could open the door a little wider for Ward, but that seems like a longshot given the need for depth at other key positions. If Ward were to stick, it would likely be on the practice squad. However, given the need for quality second and third string running backs around the NFL, if Ward plays well during the preseason, he could be scooped up by another team.
Steelers Have Several Battles Ahead In The Preseason
When evaluating talent, especially during training camp, it's important to remember that these are mostly controlled practice situations. Even during preseason games, the starters aren't seeing any significant time, and the players on the field are mostly backups. The crazy catches and hype built around moments during this team development period makes for great viral moments, but ultimately does nothing to solidify a team's likelihood for a Lombardi Trophy.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A8829-544x306.jpg "Steelers George Pickens")
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Steelers wide receiver George Pickens catches a pass in the end zone as the team practices during 2023 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
That being said, the Steelers will have huge questions to answer upon the completion of their three games this preseason. Aside from the obvious questions of who will be starting at quarterback, or will the Steelers make a massive trade before Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, the biggest questions come surrounding the future of the team.
The focus now is on winning a Super Bowl, but beyond this season, several players will be looking for new contracts. If players currently placed in depth roles like McCormick and Ward can do enough, there is the potential they can unseat the current starters and play their way into a job for 2025.
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