It has been a long wait for the Pittsburgh Steelers' fan base following a Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills in January. The organization has not secured a playoff victory since the 2016 season and simply getting to the postseason, or having a non-losing record, is not going to cut it going forward. Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the front office made several roster adjustments throughout the 2024 offseason, so it will be very interesting to see which players stick and which don't. Overall, the coaching staff will have to be very particular about who gets starting nods in all three phases of the game.
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Head Coach Mike Tomlin yells in the direction of one of his players during warmups prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
In 2023, one of the bigger storylines was then-rookie Broderick Jones finally getting the official starting nod ahead of Chukwuma Okorafor. There are always possibilities and scenarios where players do, or could, get benched, and 2024 is no different. Certain players could have very short leashes due to eager teammates waiting to get a chance behind them.
1.) Russell Wilson - Quarterback
Cue the obvious here. Russell Wilson is a veteran quarterback playing on the veteran minimum. He doesn't seem to be the same guy that he was back when he competed for the Seattle Seahawks. At this point, no one is even quite sure whether or not Wilson will be 100% or able to play in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons due to a calf ailment.
Despite this, Wilson still remains the starting quarterback, but there has been plenty of talk surrounding young play-maker Justin Fields. A trade brought him to the Steel City and he could get an opportunity sooner rather than later to prove that he should be moved into the "pole position." Wilson's nagging injury make things even more interesting, and his seat as a starter is arguably hotter than any one of his teammates.
2.) Calvin Austin III - Wide Receiver
After missing his entire rookie season due to injury in 2022, Calvin Austin III was not overly impressive in 2023. He wasn't given as many opportunities as fans would have liked for him to show off his blazing speed. He should start the 2024 campaign at the slot wideout position, but there is a hungry rookie behind him in Roman Wilson wanting a chance to contribute immediately.
Roman Wilson was limited for the latter half of training camp and the preseason due to injury, and he was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. He won't be inserted into the starting lineup right away, but has the versatility to move inside to the slot if Austin struggles early on. The wide receiver position has been in question all offseason for the Steelers, so it's worth keeping an eye on.
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Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (#19) makes a tough catch during a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
3.) Elandon Roberts - Linebacker
Patrick Queen will wear the green dot for the defense, but Elandon Roberts doesn't get enough credit for his consistent play in 2023. That doesn't mean that he won't feel some type of pressure in 2024, though. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson was recognized as a major steal in the 2024 NFL Draft. If he hadn't suffered injuries throughout college, it's possible that he would have been the first inside linebacker off the board.
Roberts isn't likely to be benched, but he lands on this list in case of a week-long injury, such as a concussion allowing Payton Wilson to get a start at some point. The first-year player proved during the preseason that he is able to fly around and make plays. Roberts is only under contract through 2024, and the Steelers could want to get a glimpse of what the future looks like with Payton Wilson if the opportunity presents itself.
Steelers' Offensive Line Is One Giant Question Mark
One may ask why Dan Moore Jr. wasn't put at the top of this list. The main reason is because no one really knows what is going on when it comes to the health of the offensive line. Jones dealt with an arm problem throughout training camp and the preseason, while rookie Troy Fautanu had to work through a knee injury. Moore could start on the left while Jones plays on the right, or Jones could finally move to his natural spot on the left with Fautanu manning the right side.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones (#77) sets up at the line of scrimmage and prepares to block during a 2023 preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Realistically, the most consistent in the preseason was Moore when he was given the opportunity. The fourth-year lineman has 49 career starts under his belt, so it's absolutely possible he begins the season as the starter, but with two first-round picks in the same room as him, it's hard to believe that he would last long if he isn't perfect in both the running and passing game.
Who do you think is on the hot seat for the Steelers as far as players go to begin the season? Let us know in the comments below!
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