Football is a game of playmakers. On defense, those players don’t just tackle ball carriers or bat down passes—they make life difficult before the ball is even snapped. The Pittsburgh Steelers have thrived on this concept for years.
Just ask anyone who’s had to line up against T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith. The intimidation they bring changes game plans. But this season, injuries in the secondary—most notably DeShon Elliott’s MCL issue—have left Pittsburgh without a reliable spark on the back end.
Enter Jabrill Peppers.
The Steelers signed the former Michigan Wolverine, looking for help, and in Week 3 against the New England Patriots, they found more than that. They found a difference-maker.
Peppers has always been known for his versatility, high energy, and natural instinct for finding the football. He showcased all of that against New England, helping Teryl Austin’s defense bounce back after a shaky start to the year.
The numbers don’t lie: the Patriots managed just 3.3 yards per carry with a 25% success rate on the ground, and the big plays—something that haunted Pittsburgh earlier this season—were essentially erased. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen without a presence like Peppers flying around the field.
What stood out most wasn’t just the stats, though those were impressive enough. Peppers took a portion of Juan Thornhill’s snap count and maximized every opportunity, finishing with six tackles and a forced fumble. His play had a ripple effect, bringing energy to the defense and giving the Steelers a tone-setter on the back end.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will benefit from playing Jabrill Peppers more often in regular season
After the game, Peppers summed up his debut in Pittsburgh with simple words: “It feels good right now.” And why wouldn’t it? He didn’t just fill a role—he elevated it. Against both the run and the pass, he looked like an asset this team cannot afford to push back into a limited role.
The Steelers have long valued players who bring edge, toughness, and versatility, and Peppers fits that mold perfectly.
He’s not just an injury replacement. He’s an X-factor. That’s why it’s so important for Mike Tomlin and his staff to keep him in the rotation moving forward. Relying solely on Elliott when he returns may not be the wisest approach, especially when Peppers has proven he can elevate the defense in ways others haven’t.
Pittsburgh’s formula for success has always been built around defense. Watt, Highsmith, and Cameron Heyward have all become household names because of their ability to change games. Peppers showed in just one week that he can belong in that conversation, too. His range, his energy, and his physicality give the Steelers yet another weapon in a league where having too many is never a problem.
If the Steelers are serious about chasing another AFC North crown and making noise in the postseason, they’ll need more than Rodgers’ arm or Metcalf’s catches. They’ll need a defense that suffocates opponents from every angle. Keeping Peppers in the rotation is the kind of decision that could quietly shape the course of the season.
I believe Pittsburgh knows it. And if they do the right thing, we’ll be seeing a lot more of Jabrill Peppers this fall.