The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their 2026 preseason in dramatic fashion in a 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills. But in exhibition action, it's never about the score; it's about seeing which players did enough to stick around and help the team for the regular season.
Unfortunately, there were plenty of underwhelming performances, and the Steelers will have some easy cuts to make. Last night, however, seven players proved they would not go down without a fight.
These players were all considered outside the roster bubble entering Pittsburgh's preseason finale against Buffalo, but they gave it their all with notable performances that should at least give the organization something to think about before the NFL roster deadline.
These seven Pittsburgh Steelers players rose to the occasion in the preseason finale
Max Hurleman, WR
It's hard not to come away impressed by what Max Hurleman has offered the Steelers over the past two preseasons, and the long-shot wide receiver was sure to end his exhibition campaign with a bang. Hurleman reeled in all three targets for 50 receiving yards (which led any player from either team), per ESPN stats. Hurleman has been a consistent option in the passing game, and if he were to go down swinging, he should circle back to the practice squad.
Lew Nichols, RB
Of all the players on this list, Nichols may have made the best case for the 53-man roster. The journeyman running back showed off his acceleration, ball-carrier vision, and quick feet as he managed 40 rushing yards on just seven carries (5.7 yards per carry). Nichols looked like the best Steelers running back this preseason, and his final performance against the Bills was his best one yet.
Doug Nester, OT
It's hard to focus on offensive linemen much during the broadcast of the game, but if you get a chance to go back and watch the all-22 of Doug Nester, you'll come away impressed. The Steelers put Nester to the test by playing him all 61 offensive snaps, and he turned the opportunity into a strong performance, earning a 90.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus—the best on the team ($).
D'Shawn Jamison, CB
The Steelers are deep at cornerback—especially if Joey Porter Jr. returns—so there may not be room for another. But D'Shawn Jamison played with his heart on his sleeve on Thursday night. As he shared a role in a crowded secondary, Jamison logged just 22 defensive snaps, but he made the most of his opportunities.
Jamison racked up seven tackles while allowing just 17 yards in coverage on three targets. His 85.4 overall grade was the second-best of any Steelers defender against the Bills in Week 3 of the preseason.
Kyler Baugh, DT
Kyler Baugh had a relatively quiet summer, but the defensive tackle put the gas pedal to the floor in a last-ditch effort to show the coaching staff what he's got. Baugh showed relentless pursuit and the ability to get quick pressure on the quarterback. It won't be enough to stick around on the 53-man roster, but he may have landed a spot on the practice squad with this quality showing.
Kevin Jobity Jr. , DT
Like Baugh, Kevin Jobity Jr. was also playing with his hair on fire against the Bills. Jobity earned an impressive sack, and though he was washed out on a few running plays, his motor was in full gear after the quarterback and disrupting the pocket. He's another defensive tackle who just made a strong case for the practice squad.
Devan Boykin, S
With 53 snaps against the Bills, Devan Boykin played eight more snaps than any Steelers defender, which proved that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and the defensive staff wanted to get a long look at him. Outside of getting run over by a ball carrier once, Boykin was an impressive tackler from the safety position. He earned 9 total tackles (five solo), which netted him an impressive 85.9 tackling grade from PFF.
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