Steelers Have Secret Weapon On Their Roster Who Could Steal Snaps From Starters

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense was not as strong as many had hoped in 2025. With poor communication and scheming, the league's highest-paid defense left a lot to be desired. In an effort to rectify the situation, Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham have been trying to flip the script. With a new scheme and coaches, the time for the Steelers' defense to return to dominance could be near. Amongst those changes come some key additions to the unit who will be able to help improve the squad, including cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Jaquan Brisker. 

The Steelers added at practically every position on defense in the offseason, but one spot that the front office didn't put a ton of stock into was the middle linebacker group. The starters that included Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson were good, but not great. Queen, a Pro Bowler, and Wilson, a budding young player, had some areas that needed improvement. Wilson struggles at times against the run, and Queen hasn't been quite as dominant as he was earlier in his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

With the pair of inside linebackers hoping to prove their worth in 2026, and the Steelers not investing a ton in bolstering the position, the combination leads to believing the team has faith in a young player to take some more snaps at the spot. On the Snap Count podcast that features former Steelers players Charlie Batch and Trai Essex, Batch revealed the inside linebacker who he believes can earn himself a role on defense. 

"I do think you see a Carson Bruener making a name for himself, and he might steal a couple of snaps in there," Essex said. 

The second-year inside linebacker, who played predominantly on special teams in 2025, may have a case for himself in 2026. Batch expanded on Essex's claim:

"This is a name you won't hear about a lot... because he was a late-round pick, they're not giving him a chance. This is what you want as a player, you're like, 'You don't have to speak my name,' because he played well last year in the special teams game. Now, with an added element, can he take the next step and steal some snaps away from another linebacker?" said Batch. 

The 2025 seventh-rounder out of the University of Washington will have a lot to prove, but after his incredible special teams play in 2025, it won't be surprising if he makes a case for an immediate role on defense. 

With Bruener only recording one snap on defense in 2025, he was mostly a special teams player as mentioned. However, this isn't something to go unnoticed. He proved many wrong, making the team as a seventh-round pick, and made a huge impact on kick and punt coverage units. Bruener recorded 19 combined tackles, including multiple big hits. With the Steelers' inside linebackers struggling last season, Bruener could make an impact there if given the opportunity. 

The Steelers need a sure-tackling linebacker who can stop the run. The defense struggled against the run in 2025, partly because of its linebackers' inability to shed run blocks. Bruener proved he can do that on special teams; why not on defense? 

The Steelers' Linebacker Room Needs Depth

With Wilson and Queen starting, the depth behind the two is lacking. Malik Harrison is the next man up, who actually started several games last season as well, but he wasn't very impressive in 2025. Besides those three, the team is looking for another player to take on a larger role, especially if Queen or Wilson goes down. With the pair already struggling last year, this will be a huge test for the position group and one that the Steelers brass may need to address in the near future. 

The hope is for the group to play up to the standard that they're meant to be at. Queen will continue to be the green dot wearer, and Wilson is steadily improving. Now, the Steelers need to ensure their depth is up to snuff. 

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