Steelers must-watch players in opening preseason game vs Seahawks

Steelers rookies all need to be watched

I know this is a cop-out, but just trying to choose one or two of the rookies to make this list is impossible. There is always a lot of excitement when observing a rookie class in a game for the first time. That said, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the class this season.

Starting off with Kenny Pickett, everyone is wondering how he will look in his first game as a professional. He has had his fair share of struggles in camp, but he has recently begun to string together a few stronger camps. He likely isn’t ready to unseat Trubisky as the week one starter, but a good first game would go a long way in reassuring fans.

The offense and defense both have a slew of intriguing players that should be on display. Calvin Austin has flashed some serious speed in camp while Connor Heyward has been used all over the field. DeMarvin Leal has looked like a man amongst boys at times while Mark Robinson has looked like a far more pro-ready prospect than most expected him to be as a rookie.

And how could I not mention George Pickens on this list? The rookie receiver has caught the attention of almost everyone due to his dominance in camp. Will that translate early on? While I do think people need to be cautious about his expectations early on, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Pickens’s first game-day snaps.

While the first game of the preseason isn’t vital for players, there are plenty of things to be excited about and prospects to watch. The group I’ve compiled above is just a tiny sampling of some of the players I will be closely watching on Saturday, as their overall stock has a lot riding on this game.