“Steelers’ Preseason Debut: Key Performances, Injury Concerns, and What Lies Ahead”
The Steelers had their preseason opener, where they showed both strengths and areas of sloppiness. With many starters resting, the Texans, having played in the Hall of Fame game, had a slight edge, making their victory unsurprising.
Notable performances included Justin Fields, who had some impressive moments despite fumbling twice on poor snaps. Calvin Austin also stood out, hinting at a potential breakout in his third year after missing his rookie season with an injury.
Payton Wilson was another highlight, playing into the early fourth quarter, which impressed Mike Tomlin.
However, there were a couple of injury concerns. Troy Fautanu, who hurt his knee, is questionable with no clear diagnosis yet. While early reports suggest it may not be severe, it’s worth monitoring. Keeanu Benton, who sustained an eye injury, seems less affected and should recover quickly, with a possible precautionary absence from the next preseason game.
On a positive note, Cordarrelle Patterson has been activated from the non-football injury list and might see action in the upcoming preseason games, though his role will likely be limited to special teams.
The Steelers will next face the Bills on August 17th, where we hope to see some of the veterans who missed the Texans game and, most importantly, fewer injuries.