The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to bounce back in a big way when they travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. The teams have both gotten off to a mixed start with matching 1-1 records, and neither of them want to be below .500. While Pittsburgh has some injury issues of their own that they have to battle through, a superstar defender for the Patriots is set to miss his third straight game.
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Patriots' Cornerback Christian Gonzalez before a preseason game.
Patriots' cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the third-year player who was a first-round pick for the team in 2023 (taken 15 selections before the Steelers took cornerback Joey Porter Jr.), was ruled out less than 24 hours prior to kickoff, despite optimism from head coach Mike Vrabel after he practiced.
"He did some work," Vrabel said earlier this week. "It was good to see him out there. It's very good to have him out there, and the more guys we can get out there, the better."
Gonzalez got off to an explosive start in his rookie year, posting an 80.8 grade according to Pro Football Focus. His second season was nearly as impressive, posting a 76.0 grade. Gonzalez solidified the New England secondary and provided them with a true lockdown corner - something they will miss when facing wide receiver DK Metcalf and quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf smile as they talk during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
New England's defense leads the National Football League in passing yards allowed, averaging over 300 yards per game given up. Gonzalez' absence certainly plays a role in this, and the team's task won't get any easier on Sunday, facing a quarterback who's thrown five touchdowns in two games. New England will depend on cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Charles Woods to take over in what will likely be another high scoring affair. The Steelers' defense isn't without their struggles, ranking 29th in the NFL for points per game given up.
Steelers Defense Battles Significant Injuries Leading Into Week 3
The Patriots aren't the only team battling injuries - the Steelers will be missing three starters of their own. Porter, as well as edge rusher Alex Highsmith and safety Deshon Elliott will miss Week 3 action, the team reported. Highsmith and Elliott are major blows to a team that was already struggling heavily with defending the run, but New England has struggled to run the ball through two week as well. The Patriots are 23rd in the league in rushing yards, slightly ahead of Pittsburgh, who is 30th.
The two teams are similar in many ways, both not being able to run the ball, but also both struggling containing the pass. New England has been stouter against the run, but the Steelers hope to get a major boost with the return of rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who practiced for the first time in the regular season this week and may make his debut against the Patriots. When speaking with the media, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin shed some light on how Harmon might be used.
"We’ll be pretty judicious with his snaps and try to work him back," Austin said. "He’s probably gonna lack some football conditioning, some football shape."
While it sounds like Harmon could be on a snap count limit in Week 3, the Steelers have struggled against the run, and if that continues, it might lend itself to Harmon seeing some more action than the Steelers originally planned.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in a preseason game.
Both the Patriots and the Steelers share similarities, and both are facing major injuries on defenses that could ill afford them. All signs point to another game that could be a high-scoring shootout, and that means that the team that makes the fewest mistakes will likely win.
The Steelers face an advantage with Rodgers, who is a 41-year-old veteran who knows how to exploit the weakness of a defense. The Steelers have to hope to contain Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, coming off what might be the best game in his young NFL career.
What do you think of the Steelers' defensive injuries? Let us know in the comments below!
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