3 Steelers players whose stock is plummeting after preseason loss to the Bills

The Steelers preseason woes continue, leaving fans with more questions than answers. Saturday's game was another disappointing showing, with a performance that fell short of expectations. Preseason is typically a time for teams to show steady improvement each week, but the Steelers didn't seem to make any significant strides this time around.

There were few positives to take away, and unfortunately, a lot more concerns emerged. Here are three Steelers whose stock is trending downward after Saturday’s loss.

OT Broderick Jones

Broderick Jones couldn’t have had a rougher start to the season. After struggling in the preseason opener, his performance only worsened this past Saturday. Although Jones is dealing with an injury, that doesn’t fully excuse his subpar play. Compounding the issue is the Steelers’ decision to move him away from his natural position at left tackle, where he excelled at Georgia. Switching positions is challenging enough, but the constant back-and-forth between tackle spots is likely taking a toll on his confidence and development.

The Steelers need to make a firm decision on where Jones should play before his confidence is completely undermined. Sticking him in the position where he’s most comfortable and allowing him to develop there could be key to his progress.

We've seen the consequences of playing out of position, as with Kevin Dotson, who struggled with the Steelers but thrived after being traded to the Rams and returned to playing his natural position, eventually earning a three-year contract as one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL. If Jones doesn’t turn in a solid performance next Saturday against the Lions, he might be at risk of losing his starting spot.

QB Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson made his preseason debut after missing a couple of weeks with a calf injury, but the offense struggled in all of his series on Saturday night. They couldn’t find any rhythm or move the ball effectively downfield.

This is concerning, especially since Wilson is expected to be the Week 1 starter. Meanwhile, Justin Fields, despite not having a stellar preseason either, led an offense that appeared more effective with him under center.

If another poor offensive performance occurs against the Lions, this QB battle could be up for grabs. As the season nears, the team should start the quarterback who best fits Arthur Smith’s offense, and right now, Fields' running ability makes a strong case for him to be the Week 1 starter.

The WR Corps

Aside from George Pickens, there isn't a wide receiver on the roster who has emerged as a reliable number two option. Van Jefferson has had a solid camp, but he shouldn't be considered the second-best option behind Pickens. With Roman Wilson sidelined due to injury, it's unclear where he might fit into the equation.

The Steelers urgently need a receiver who can create separation effortlessly. Diontae Johnson provided that ability for several years before being traded to Carolina, and the front office hasn't yet signed a replacement who can offer the same impact. With Brandon Aiyuk likely off the table, the team may need to explore surprise trade opportunities before the final roster cuts to find a player who can fill this critical role.

Other Thoughts:

It might seem like an overreaction after just two preseason games, but the issues with this roster are becoming increasingly concerning, especially with limited time left to address them. The anticipated improvements we hoped for heading into training camp haven’t materialized.

Both new quarterbacks have been underwhelming, and the offensive line hasn’t made the jump we expected, though I understand that unit cohesion takes time.

The wide receiver group ranks among the league's weakest, and there are significant concerns about corner depth and a lack of a solidified starting slot corner. With only three weeks until the season starts, there are more questions than answers at this point.