Despite dropping their Week 4 game, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw some very promising play from their depth pieces. The biggest one was Robert Spears-Jennings, who immediately made an impact once he took over as the primary free safety. Once he got into the mix, it seemed like the play of depth-turned-starters Asante Samuel Jr. and Daylen Everette improved, as they had more confidence that they had the necessary help behind them if needed. If this level of play continues, the defensive back position should not be a problem in the near future.
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Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (10) rushes the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Spears-Jennings (28) in the second half at Huntington Bank Field.
That's the big key to any team. It doesn't matter how amazing the starters are if the backup pieces can't step up and play a role when needed. The Steelers entered the 2026 season believing they were great in that regard, but the depth is definitely being tested through the early part of the season with injuries, inconsistent play from the starters, and the Joey Porter Jr. trade.
Christian Kuntz knows all about big plays from little-known names, so he's always watching for those kinds of things. On the latest episode of The Christian Kuntz Podcast, he mentioned one play from a practice squad player in particular that deserves some respect.
"Lew Nichols got called up for this Cleveland game and [made a] big-time play in the fourth quarter on kickoff," Kuntz said. "He made the tackle [at the 26-yard line]. That's a running back, called up, p-squad, who's a dog making a solo tackle on kickoff."
Making tackles is expected out of this highly rated defense, but it's a lot harder to do for these offensive players who are just trying to find any way to get on the field for game day. During a time where the Steelers' special teams has been having constant issues, running back Lew Nichols did his part to try and keep the Cleveland Browns from marching down the field and scoring.
That tackle got overlooked because the defense unfortunately did not do its job well enough on that final drive, as the Browns marched down the field to kick the go-ahead field goal. That doesn't take away the fact that Nichols came off the practice squad and did whatever he could to contribute to the team. While many fans likely didn't notice it, the coaching staff was most likely pleased with him during film session.
Harrison Barden / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers running back Lew Nichols during preseason game against the Packers on August 13, 2026.
Even with a new coaching staff, the philosophy is still the same in Pittsburgh: if you're going to be a backup that plays on gameday, you better contribute on special teams. That's how these unknown players can build a name for themselves and earn snaps on offense or defense. That's the case here with Nichols, who recorded another solo tackle earlier in the game. If he keeps this play up, a spot will open up for him on the 53-man roster, along with a few reps at running back.
Steelers' Nichols Is A Bright Spot On A Struggling Unit
Another reason why Nichols' great tackle is overshadowed is due to how bad the special teams unit as a whole has been. All throughout the season, new special teams coordinator Danny Crossman has been criticized for how rough all phases of his unit have played. While the practice squad running back played well, he seems to be an outlier for this struggling group.
Outside of Nichols' play, the kickoff coverage unit has been outright bad. The return game has not been much better as everyone is now questioning why the Steelers used a mid-round pick on Kaden Wetjen. It didn't help that there was a clear miscommunication on the field goal unit in Week 1, leading to a blunder and potential missed points. Special teams as a whole seem to be all out of whack.
What do you think about Nichols' big tackle on special teams? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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