Another tough outing for the Pittsburgh Steelers has fans questioning what lies ahead this season. In their preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers fell 9-3, with the game marked by more struggles than successes and only a few moments of promise.
Saturday's game had its share of disappointments, with only a few bright spots to celebrate. Here’s a look at three winners and three losers from the Steelers Week 2 preseason loss.
Steelers Winners:
OLB Nick Herbig
Early in the game, Nick Herbig notched a pair of sacks -- showcasing the second-year leap we’ve been eagerly anticipating. His growth has been evident, and he's poised to play a significant role as the third outside linebacker. If the Steelers can find a spot for him in a three-OLB set, their pass rush could very well become the best in the league.
P Cameron Johnston
The Steelers have finally found their punter, and he was booming the ball once again on Saturday, with his longest punt reaching an impressive 65 yards. Given the current state of the offense, Johnston will be a crucial asset, consistently pinning back opposing teams and helping the Steelers control field position.
DT Larry Ogunjobi
Larry Ogunjobi has been having a solid summer now that he's finally healthy. He’s been making plays, putting pressure on Trubisky, and getting key stops on third downs. After a tough season last year, it’s great to see him stepping up, and the Steelers will likely need to rely on him as a key part of their defense this season.
3 Losers:
OT Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones has struggled in pass protection again, giving up a couple of sacks and raising concerns about his readiness. As a second-year player, he was expected to step up and solidify his spot on the offensive line. However, his performance this preseason has been disappointing, leaving doubts about whether he'll be a Week 1 starter.
Run Defense
The run defense in the second half was disappointing, as the team struggled to contain the Bills' rushing attack. Buffalo racked up a total of 167 rushing yards. While this wasn’t the Steelers' first-team defense on the field, it's still frustrating for Mike Tomlin to see the depth not performing up to expectations.
First Team offense
For a 2nd straight preseason game the first-team offense couldn’t find the end zone. Russel Wilson made his first start as a Steeler and couldn’t find a rhythm. The same continued with Justin Fields as he was able to produce more offensively but still couldn’t generate any points. It’s not a good look heading into the regular season in a couple of weeks as the first-team offense can’t get anything going.