The Steelers wrapped up their first preseason game, and it was quite the opportunity for some of the lower-level players to shine. No matter the end result, there were some positives to take away from some of the individual performances. Here are the 10 Steelers whose stock is soaring following the first preseason game.
Steelers whose stock is soaring
Kyle Allen, QB
Kyle Allen got comfortable quickly in this game, and he flashed his veteran ability as a backup quarterback. The team also stuck with him for most of the game. My biggest question was if the Steelers would be inclined to keep three quarterbacks given the new rules, but Allen looked the part and should stick as the third quarterback for the team.
Daijun Edwards, RB
It had been a quiet camp so far for undrafted rookie Daijun Edwards. The Georgia back seemed like an afterthought but gave this offense a spark in this game. In particular, he showcased his ability to make guys miss in space as both a runner and receiver. Jonathan Ward also looked good, so we should see both get more looks as the fourth running back for this team.
Jack Colletto, FB
A minor shoutout here, but Jack Colletto is really pushing for a roster spot. He was effective as a lead blocker and saw a lot of work with the early offense. I would guess he is still outside looking in but don’t be surprised to see him continue to ascend in camp.
Scotty Miller, Dez Fitzpatrick, WR
While both Scotty Miller and Dez Fitzpatrick made some plays on offense, the reason their stock is up right now is less what they did and more what someone else did. Quez Watkins was a non-factor on offense and muffed a punt on special teams. It seems almost certain that he gets kicked down a few pegs on the depth chart, opening the door for both Miller and Fitzpatrick.
Zach Fraizer, C
Similar to the names above, Zach Frazier wasn’t elite in his first outing, but he benefited from the struggles that Nate Herbig showcased. He botched two snaps which were killer for the offense. Frazier had no such issue, and he looked good in space this week. Expect him to be starting sooner rather than later.
Dan Moore, OT
Let's keep this stock up because of other issues going on! Troy Fautanu saw a good deal of work this week, and despite the expectation being that he was pro-ready, he didn’t play that well. His run blocking was fine, but he gave up a pair of sacks. If he doesn’t sharpen his game up, Moore will retain a starting role for the beginning of the season.
Montravius Adams, DL
There were serious questions if Montravius would be brought back this year, and many were upset that he got more than the minimum. That said, Montravius Adams looked like a man among boys this week. He was already almost a roster lock, but this game really looked impressive for the veteran backup.
DeMarvin Leal, EDGE
It has been a busy week for DeMarvin Leal. The Steelers decided to move him to edge rusher again, and the path to the roster is suddenly wide open with the sudden retirement of Markus Golden. He looked good this week and continued the narrative of his solid start to training camp.
Payton Wilson, LB
The Steelers have something here with their third-round pick. Payton Wilson was all over the field and also made an impact on special teams. He is going to see the field sooner than later, and it appears more and more certain each day that the team got a steal in Wilson.
While it is still early in the process, the Steelers had quite a few great performances in their debut game. While some players benefited from others struggling, this team also had some notable names make some noise this week. Now, these players need to stack good games and practices to keep their stock up.