That was quite entertaining for a preseason game. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who have struggled to move the ball consistently on offense for years, found one explosive play after the next against the Green Bay Packers in their 28-9 victory in their preseason opener.
Not only were there a handful of spectacular individual performances on offense, but the Steelers' defense played with their hair on fire from the opening snap through the closing whistle.
Thursday night gave roster bubble players a chance to make a statement, and rookie draft picks the opportunity to get acclimated to the NFL stage. Who were the biggest winners and losers from the preseason opener?
Biggest winners and losers after the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason opener against the Packers
It's one game... but Drew Allar looks the part of a future starting QB
The 22-year-old is playing the toughest position in football, but it certainly didn't look like Drew Allar was nervous in his first exhibition action. His very first pass was a rocket over the middle of the field, which rookie wideout and return man Kaden Wetjen took for a 74-yard gain.
From there, Allar showed everything fans wanted to see—poise, play-extension ability, aggressiveness with the football, and accuracy. This resulted in a spectacular showing in the second half that included 10 of 13 passing for 153 yards (11.8 yards per attempt), two passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown.
Allar earned a remarkable 154.8 passer rating and showed the willingness to push the ball down the field and over the middle to make explosive plays. We all remember Kenny Pickett's 2023 preseason, so we don't want to overhype it, but this felt different.
Kaden Wetjen is already silencing doubters
Speaking of Wetjen, I'll gladly throw the Steelers' fourth-round pick into the spotlight after the Steelers' offensive showing against the Packers. As a return man, Wetjen was only average—taking three kick returns for 61 yards (20.3 yards per return). But what he offered on offense was more than we could have expected.
Wetjen was only targeted twice, but he led the team with 79 receiving yards. The rookie also capped off a scoring drive with a five-yard touchdown reception late in the game. Most importantly, Wetjen showed the ability to get open and turn on the jets immediately after the catch. This was an encouraging sign.
Jamin Davis might just give Jack Sawyer a run for his money
The one position we all thought was completely settled (edge rusher) might have a little competition after all. Though Jamin Davis showed some obvious stiffness rushing off the edge, that didn't stop him from racking up eight tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hits despite a part-time role.
Davis, a former first-round pick of the Washington Commanders, is attempting to make a successful transition from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher, and he's off to a strong start. We pretty much counted Jack Sawyer as a roster lock ahead of the Steelers' preseason, but Davis could give him a run for his money with two more performances like the one we saw against the Packers.
Gabriel Rubio looks like he belongs in the D-line rotation
It only took one game for Gabriel Rubio to go from a roster-bubble player to a guy who looks like he could be involved in the defensive line rotation from Day 1. The Steelers' sixth-round pick was a menace against the run, stopping rushers dead in their tracks.
In part-time action in his first NFL preseason game, Rubio racked up six tackles while showing terrific anchoring strength and almost comical, over-the-top energy in pursuit. I guess that's why Mike McCarthy said he belongs on the NFL stage.
Germie Bernard could be a sneaky weapon in Mike McCarthy's offense
Second-round rookie Germie Bernard only played early in the Steelers' first preseason game, but he found a way to soak up four receptions on five targets for 51 yards. The only target that didn't go down as a catch was a valiant effort in the end zone in which Bernard couldn't get his second foot down after taking a shot and hanging onto the football.
Thanks to his inside-out versatility as a slot and boundary receiver, there might not be a better wideout on the team to replicate the 'CeeDee Lamb' role in Coach McCarthy's offense. Bernard could surprise some folks this season. It's just a matter of how much McCarthy will want to put on his plate right away.
Kaleb Johnson already looks like a draft bust
After a disappointing rookie season, Kaleb Johnson needed an electric start to his second NFL preseason. That didn't happen. In fact, Johnson didn't even see the field until the second half, which is a horrible sign for his standing with the team.
When he did enter the game against scrubs, Johnson earned just three yards on two carries (1.5 yards per carry), and he accounted for just one-fourteenth of the Steelers' total rush attempts. The 2025 third-round pick is already starting to look like a draft bust before his second season even begins.
Eli Heidenreich was a letdown in his Steelers preseason debut
The fans at Acrisure Stadium roared when Eli Heidenreich stepped onto the field against the Packers. Unfortunately, the cheers quickly faded, as the running back/wide receiver from Navy failed to make an impact.
Despite earning nine carries from the backfield, Heidenreich turned his opportunities into a mere 21 yards. In his defense, the entire team only gained 72 yards on 28 carries (2.6 yards per attempt), but it wasn't a great debut for the rookie, who seems to be on the outside of the roster bubble looking in.
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