The Pittsburgh Steelers looked awful in their latest preseason game against the New York Jets. But one thing we can all be thankful for is that they escaped the ugly exhibition contest without any notable injuries. Meanwhile, an AFC opponent just had a major injury scare that could have altered the outlook of their season.
During Sunday's practice, running back Ashton Jeanty attempted to jump on a loose ball, but wound up with a lower-leg injury. The sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft couldn't put any weight on his right leg and was quickly carted off the field.
Thankfully, the Raiders appear to have averted disaster. Hours after practice ended, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Jeanty is believed to have a sprained ankle and that the organization is breathing a sigh of relief.
In hindsight, the initial panic might feel like an overreaction. But had Jeanty's injury been something much more serious, the Raiders' season could have been over before it even started. Just like Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater early in August, this should serve as a healthy reminder for the Steelers to take it easy with their starters before the start of the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must be cautious with starters during meaningless football
My co-host of the Stacking The Box podcast and FanSided Senior Contributor, Marcus Mosher, recently made a comment on the podcast that carries a lot of wisdom: "Super Bowls can't be won in August, but they can be lost."
NFL teams know just how true this is.
While the Raiders probably aren't competing for a Super Bowl anytime soon, head coach Klint Kubiak and the organization just watched the team's 2026 season flash before their eyes. Meanwhile, there have already been several significant injuries around the league to starting players and key contributors that are sure to impact their team's season.
Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins—their top draft choice in 2025—went down with a season-ending ACL injury in practice. Likewise, $30 million Chargers center Tyler Biadasz suffered an ACL tear during the team's joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Falcons budding star Jalon Walker tore his left ACL during training camp and is out for the year.
The Steelers can be thankful they haven't had one of these injuries... and they need to make sure it stays that way.
In many cases, injuries are unavoidable—it's simply part of the game. But how much head coach Mike McCarthy exposes his team to situations in which they could potentially get injured matters too. For the most part, McCarthy has played it safe with his starters, as many of his top players haven't even seen the field for a preseason snap yet.
Likewise, McCarthy had no live tackling sessions during Steelers training camp, and he's been clear that he doesn't even like his players going to the ground during practice.
There are pros and cons to everything. This approach may take his team longer to reach full-contact speed to start the season. But that's a small price to pay if the Steelers can avoid the injury bug.
Fantasy football managers everywhere (myself included) are relieved that Ashton Jeanty's injury isn't something more serious. But the scare of what could have been is a necessary reminder for the Pittsburgh Steelers to continue playing it cautious with their starters until the 2026 season kicks off.
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