Steelers Rookies Have Absolutely Dominated While Filling In For Injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers have started to get wrecked with injuries, but the hope is that this recent bye week will be a step in the right direction as everyone gets healthy. Over the next few weeks, multiple players will hopefully get activated off of Injured Reserve (IR), and add some much-needed depth to the team. That plan led to the team being extra cautious during the 2026 trade deadline, but only time will decide if that was a good decision or not. For now, though, it's all about that next man up. 

One position has absolutely been thriving despite dealing with injured starters. In the latest edition of Four-Down Territory, Brian Batko noted how two rookies have completely taken over and helped to put the team on their shoulders.

"Rookies Gabriel Rubio and Kevin Jobity Jr. haven't been anything close to a liability when inserted into the rotation," Batko wrote. "In fact, offenses are averaging just 2.03 yards per carry when Rubio is on the field and 0.25 when Jobity is on the field."

Both Gabriel Rubio and Kevin Jobity Jr. were healthy scratches in the first month of the 2026 season, and they only got the chance to play because a pair of defensive linemen were put on IR. They went from being unable to get on the field to shutting down opponents' run game in record time. These rookies could end up being key starters sooner rather than later if they keep playing so well. 

Rubio did not put up a ton of stats in his NFL debut in Week 5, but the game tape showed a man that has top-tier traits. Many of his snaps went against one of the best guards in the league in Quenton Nelson. He was able to work the generational talent and not allow him to reset the line of scrimmage. That great game led to elite running back Jonathan Taylor only racking up 45 total rushing yards, as he was constantly stopped at the line of scrimmage. 

In Week 8, Jobity managed to record his first career sack in a game where the defense had its way with the Cleveland Browns. The team as a whole had seven tackles for loss, eight sacks, and 13 quarterback hits in the contest. That side of the ball has been buzzing as a whole. It has helped the rookie defensive linemen get comfortable on the field which, in turn, has helped them shut down the run game and allow everyone else to feast.

Overall, Rubio and Jobity have not put up all kinds of crazy stats and made themselves household names across the NFL. They don't need to, though. These young studs just close off their gaps and refuse to allow the running back to get any sort of space, which allows the bigger names to fly in and make the stop. That forces the opposing offense to pass from second- and third-and-long situations more often than it would like.

Steelers May Have Big Decision Up Ahead

Former first-round pick Derrick Harmon is expected back very soon. Not only could that result in less playing time for Rubio and/or Jobity, but one of them may have to be a healthy scratch again to make room for the starter. Neither of them deserves to be scratched, but that could result in a quality player at another position losing the ability to play as well.

It's unclear how long Sebastian Joseph-Day will have to miss with his triceps injury, but if he ends up returning shortly after he's eligible to, that adds more to this logjam in the defensive line. It's definitely great to have all this depth in case worse comes to worst, but at the same time, the Steelers may need to find way to include Rubio and Jobity as the injured players return.

What do you think about Rubio and Jobity's performance? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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