Steelers' Mike Tomlin Announces Controversial Plans Regarding Playing Time In Week 2 Of The Preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for their second preseason matchup of the 2025 season as they prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. The team will be participating in a joint practice with the Bucs on Thursday, which will provide some extra work and an additional look for the coaching staff as the players will take on external competition. This provides an opportunity for both sides of the ball to take a meaningful step forward in their progression towards being ready for the regular season, and fans will also get a better idea of what the team might look like come Week 1.

Fans are going to have to rely on reports from the joint practice on Thursday to see what the starters look like against external competition, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin is approaching the second preseason game in the same manner as he did the first game. Most starters will be held out, including players like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, both of the top tight ends, and nearly all of the defensive stars. He announced this while speaking to the media ahead of the team's joint practice.

"In terms of anticipated play time, I'm going to play this preseason game very much like we did the first one," Tomlin said. "In terms of participation, the same collection of guys that were held out last time will comprise the guys that are held out this time. Those include Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, the two tight ends, Muth [Pat Freiermuth] and Jonnu [Smith], Isaac Seumalo on the offensive line. On the defensive side, the three edge guys, TJ [Watt], Highsmith, maybe I'll let [Nick] Herbig play a little bit. Depends on the quality of work he gets today. Cam [Heyward] won't play, Pat Queen won't play. Those core secondary guys that were held out last time, I'm holding out this time."

A lot of fans want to see some of the starters play, but that won't be the case in the second preseason game. There are a lot of new pieces on the offensive side of the ball, so it might be a good idea to get those starters out there to get some game experience. Tomlin however, seems to want to hold off on that, as he's insisted he's been pleased with their work thus far in training camp (along with believing the joint practice will also help with regular season preparation).

Many people have spoken out about how they want to see Rodgers take some snaps during the preseason. This includes former Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who recently stated that he believes it would be smart to get Rodgers on the field to get more familiar with the offensive system and the weapons around him. This thought process holds true for many fans as well, but Rodgers also pointed out that the work he will get during the joint practice with Tampa Bay is arguably more important than suiting up in the preseason.

This is a fair point, considering the joint practice will mostly be simulating in-game situations against players the team doesn't typically see in practice. It will be interesting to see what the approach is in Week 3 of the preseason, as many people want to see some of the starters for Pittsburgh.

Steelers Fans Could See Aaron Rodgers In Week 3 Of The Preseason

Tomlin did not rule out the idea of some starters suiting up in Week 3 of the preseason against the Carolina Panthers. It would be good to see the new quarterback on the field for at least a possession or two with his new weapons, especially that close to the start of the regular season. As a 41-year old, it is obvious why the team might be hesitant to put him on the field for a meaningless game, but a preseason environment would also give the quarterback some great experience within the offense.

Do you want to see Rodgers on the field at all during the preseason? Let us know in the comments below!

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