Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers' return to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason doesn't tip the NFL scales at this stage of his illustrious two-decade-plus career. Fantasy football managers are glad to have him back for one final ride, though, because he at least makes the offense viable.
Rodgers answers the Steelers' biggest question of who will be under center in 2026, yet that's far from the only matter needing to be addressed. There are still plenty of dominoes around him left to fall. His supporting cast is quietly deep, which can be a blessing and a curse for drafters.
Not to mention, the Steelers are implementing a new scheme under head coach Mike McCarthy, who was hired in January. He operates much differently than his predecessor, Mike Tomlin, making it difficult to use last season as context.
Training camp and preseason will give us a much better idea of what to expect from Rodgers and his supporting cast in the upcoming campaign. We will have plenty of news once the league's summer break is over — almost too much. Stay tuned and let this be an information center for any meaningful developments.
Note: This story will be updated regularly throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp and preseason.
Rico Dowdle vs. Jaylen Warren and notable Steelers camp battles
Kaleb Johnson failing to stick out -- 8/12
DeFabo revealed that Johnson is still fighting for the RB3 job but he hasn't done much. He's lacked created any splash plays. Johnson has only picked up what the o-line has blocked and doesn't have natural hands as a pass catcher.
Pat Freiermuth's role in offense is taking shape -- 8/12
DeFabo added that Freiermuth has been a go-to option in two-minute drills and is a consistent target over the middle of the field. It looks like he'll be a safety blanket for Rodgers.
Roman Wilson is favorite for WR3 role -- 8/12
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo reported that Wilson is "firmly in the WR3 role in three-receiver sets." He's gotten praise from Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Brian Angelico. Wilson's arrow continues to point up.
Michael Pittman missed practice with leg injury -- 8/10
Pittman wasn't spotted at practice after he left Saturday's session with a leg injury. Head coach Mike McCarthy didn't reveal how long he'll be sidelined, making this something to keep an eye on.
Roman Wilson is progressing but can still grow in this area -- 8/9
Steelers Correspondent Mark Kaloby of ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show reported that Wilson has been a consistent weapon. He's caught almost everything thrown his way. He does need to fine-tune his route alignment, as he's lined up in the wrong place at least twice. He's ahead of rookie Germie Bernard but still has room to grow.
Rico Dowdle is trending towards being RB1 -- 8/5
Steelers Correspondent for ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, Mark Kaboly, reported that Dowdle looks like he'll be the starter at tailback.
"Dowdle’s quickness, speed, vision, and power make him much more than a platoon back. Even though Warren is very good, Dowdle will be the unquestioned RB1 when the season starts," Kaboly wrote.
Eli Heidenreich got some action with starters -- 8/4
Heidenreich was able to get on the field with Aaron Rodgers and caught a touchdown during 7-on-7s. This was a nice step towards proving he can be a reliable backup option.
D.K. Metcalf makes several big plays -- 8/4
Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reported that Metcalf caught two touchdowns from Aaron Rodgers. He then got a nice gain on a screen pass. Metcalf will clearly be the focal point in the passing game.
Roman Wilson is continuing to make strides in practice -- 8/3
Wilson has been another receiver working with the first-team offense this camp. During this practice, Wilson made an impressive grab, reeling in a back-shoulder throw in the end zone from Aaron Rodgers. The play was ruled incomplete, but it showed Wilson's ability to adjust to the ball in the air, putting his body control on display. He's doing most of his work from the slot.
Germie Bernard is getting action with the first team -- 8/3
Per DeFabo, Bernard has been seen running with the first team. While he hasn't popped in practice yet, the fact that he's getting action this early shows how highly the coaching staff views him. As time goes on, it'll be interesting to see if he can start making some plays.
Jaylen Warren seems to get first dibs atop Steelers depth chart -- 8/2
According to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo, Warren started camp as the likely top running back. Even though the Steelers are still splitting up reps, Warren has been getting the first rep in basically every drill. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out, but it looks like Warren has the upper hand.
D.K. Metcalf makes highlight grab -- 7/30
Metcalf made a great contested touchdown grab over rookie cornerback Daylen Everette in a "welcome to the league moment." It was captured in 4K, too, courtesy of DK Pittsburgh Sports.
This is exactly what the Steelers are hoping to see from the two-time Pro Bowl wideout (not so much Everette). Hopefully, it's a sign that Metcalf is getting more comfortable in his second year with Rodgers.
Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren sharing first-team reps -- 7/30
Dowdle got reps ahead of Warren on Day 2 after the roles were reversed to open camp (h/t DK Pittsburgh Sports). Both took reps with the starters, which will continue to be the case.
How Pittsburgh's backfield pie gets divvied up between Dowdle and Warren will probably be the hottest discussion between now and Week 1. At the end of the day, both of them will be heavily involved in the game plan, but figuring out the split could have massive implications. The former, who joined the club as a free agent in March, notably handled 549 touches combined across 2024 and 2025.
Steelers treat Roman Wilson as 'focal point' on Day 1-- 7/29
Jarrett Bailey of Behind the Steel Curtain said Wilson was "thrown to more than any other pass-catcher during team periods."
Pittsburgh is putting its money where its mouth has been regarding Wilson thus far. The 2024 third-round pick finds himself in an intriguing battle with second-round rookie Germine Bernard for Pittsburgh's No. 3 wide receiver job.
Roman Wilson earns Aaron Rodgers' praise -- 7/28
The 42-year-old Rodgers lauded Wilson for making a strong first impression on McCarthy and the Steelers' new coaching staff, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. While it's incredibly early, the positive comments are encouraging.
Sleepers, dynasty names and under-the-radar Steelers players to know
Bernard probably doesn't have immediate value, but he's someone to keep an eye on. The Alabama product has the talent, pedigree, and versatility to emerge as a legitimate weapon for the Steelers.
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