The Pittsburgh Steelers left their home field with a win over the Green Bay Packers to open up the 2026 preseason. There were definitely a lot of problems, which was expected for a team playing with a new coach for the first time. However, there was still a lot to like about the rookies, a group that showed out throughout the game. There's a long way to go in their respective developments, but it definitely feels like Pittsburgh did well in the 2026 NFL Draft for the most part, loading up with talent all over the field.
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Steelers' Will Howard warms up alongside Drew Allar for a preseason game in 2026.
Rookie quarterback Drew Allar was the headliner of this game, as he led the offense to touchdowns on all three of his drives during the contest. It seemed like everything he has learned since being drafted is starting to click, especially on a perfectly-timed quick slant to fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen, which ended up going for 74 yards and setting up a rushing score for the new quarterback.
During a post-practice press conference, head coach Mike McCarthy spoke well of Allar on that play, but he shifted the focus to Wetjen, as that play was just another example of an issue that the head coach expects to be cleaned up.
"Mike McCarthy says the throw, timing, and precision from Drew Allar on Kaden Wetjen's 74-yard catch was big time," Nick Farabaugh wrote on X. "McCarthy says the team 'needs more playmaking' from Wetjen, who has been up-and-down in training camp. McCarthy added that he expects Wetjen to score on that play rather than get caught."
Wetjen was praised as someone who had breakaway speed and could make magic happen in the open field. He did find a hole in the defense and hit it well, but he still got caught from behind before scoring. That's not something that the coaching staff expected to see based on his college tape of him being borderline impossible to tackle whenever he had a little bit of space, both on offense and in the return game.
The rookie was also a non-factor in the return game in this contest. He averaged roughly 20 yards per return on kickoffs and just five yards on average while returning punts. The Steelers didn't burn a fourth-round pick with the hopes of having the same kickoff return problems that have plagued them for most of the last decade. He has not shown nearly enough in his limited time in Pittsburgh so far.
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Pittsburgh Steelers return specialist Kaden Wetjen (10) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The good news for Wetjen is that the Steelers never cut fourth-round picks immediately, so his job is safe for now, as it should be. He will get plenty of opportunities to prove that he wasn't as big of a reach as everyone thought when Pittsburgh selected him in the first place. The bad news is that if certain lapses continue to happen, he could be fighting for his spot on the roster as soon as the 2027 preseason if he doesn't sharpen up in the return game.
Steelers Should Understand That Speed Isn't Absolutely Everything
There are plenty of NFL players that can compete in a track meet, so Wetjen's speed is not very special. The top-tier speed demons have another tool in their toolbox that they can use while running at full speed. In fact, they've been seeing it first-hand with another rookie, as Robert Spears-Jennings has proven to be more than just his 40-yard dash time with an excellent showing in training camp.
As much as Steeler Nation may want to forget, fans remember when the Steelers used a third-round pick on one of the fastest players in NFL history: Dri Archer. Unfortunately, he did not have any other tools in his toolbox, so his career lasted all of 20 games. That 4.26 40-yard dash couldn't get him a single snap after the 2015 season. This could be Wetjen's future if he doesn't figure out how to do more than be fast.
What do you think about McCarthy not being happy about Wetjen's performance so far? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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