In preseason games, the wins and losses do not matter, as these games are to shake the rust off and get the players ready for opening day. Some players are trying to make a case for why they should make the cut for the 53-man roster when the season starts.
The Steelers' win against Jacksonville did have several such performances. They came not only from rookies trying to make the squad but from some veterans whose roster spots are safe headed into the season, but were showing they have stepped up their game to the next level.
The players on this list at least made statements as to why they deserve to be on the final roster.
Pittsburgh Steelers players who are already making a case for the 53-man roster after the preseason opener
#35 Lew Nichols, running back
Lew Nichols is a running back in his third season. He didn't play early in the game, as most of his work was in the latter half of the game, where bubble players get a lot of preseason playing time. In a game where most fans were looking to see how Kaleb Johnson would perform, Nichols put in a solid performance late in the game with six carries and 31 yards, just slightly less than half of the Steelers' 66 total rushing yards.
Nichols averaged 5.2 yards a carry, and his longest was 14. While he may be a long shot to make the final roster, he at least put in a solid performance to state his case to Mike Tomlin that he is worthy of consideration.
#34 Max Hurleman, running back
Max Hurleman, a rookie trying to make the roster, made a perfect case for why Mike Tomlin should consider him in the final cutdown. Whereas Nichols's performance came in the running game, Hurleman showed his capabilities as a receiver.
Hurleman was targeted once for a 26-yard strike that put the Steelers in the red zone, and on the subsequent play, scored a touchdown. In the end, he had two receptions for 29 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per reception, with a touchdown. While he may still be a long shot to make the squad, he at least gave Mike Tomlin a reason to take a second look at him.
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#33 Jack Sawyer, outside linebacker
Perhaps not everyone was impressed with Jack Sawyer's performance; that's understandable. However, there were aspects to appreciate about his performance in the Steelers' victory. He did have two tackles on the night and one quarterback hit. While not stellar, it was the intangibles that made him stand out.
Sawyer showed a lot of heart, aggressiveness, and hustle, which, if you're trying to impress a head coach, that's the way to do it. How much Mike Tomlin notices we will see come cutdown day
#31 Beanie Bishop, cornerback
Fans are well aware that Beanie Bishop Jr. made a name for himself in his rookie season. Plus, he is sure to make the final roster in September. What was impressive here is that not only did he start right back up where he left off last season, but he also showed a lot of aggressiveness and physicality you don't usually see in a preseason game.
One would assume that he was trying to make a statement that he is going to make that second-year leap needed to become an NFL star. Plus, it didn't hurt that he emulated the same playing style of another great player who wore number 31, and that's Hall of Famer Donnie Shell. If he keeps it up, he has a big future in the NFL.
#2 Mason Rudolph, quarterback
Mason Rudolph's status of making the final roster is not in question; however, he played the first series in the game like a seasoned veteran. Making a case that the Steelers should have never let him go to start with, and perhaps he should have been the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger the entire time.
While he was not as sharp on his subsequent series, he played. The takeaway here is that he still has the talent to run the offense. If Aaron Rodgers goes down, he can still win games if called upon. This season, given Rodgers' age, it is almost certain he will see playing time.
The Steelers had an impressive all-around preseason opener against the Jaguars
There were other good performances as well across the board as the Steelers put in a team effort to beat the Jaguars. We also saw good things from quarterback Skyler Thompson and rookie linebacker Carson Bruener, and a relatively clean performance from the Steelers' offensive line in general.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what we think about the performances; it comes down to who made the best impression on Mike Tomlin. However, the players on this list definitely should have made Tomlin take notice.