All eyes will be on the Steelers' offense in Pittsburgh's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. In the first two exhibition games, the offensive line failed to protect the quarterback, while Russell Wilson and Justin Fields combined to muster up just three points of offense so far this preseason.
When the starters exit the game, Steelers fans will have their eyes on positional battles. Mike Tomlin and his crew will soon have to make difficult roster decisions and roughly 40 percent of his 90-man roster will be hitting the road by Tuesday evening.
Fortunately, some positional battles have already been made easy for the team. Here are four battles that have already been decided heading into the Steelers vs. Lions preseason game.
Third-string quarterback
Kyle Allen hasn't seen a lot of action in the preseason with the starting offense struggling, but it's safe to say the QB3 job belongs to him. Undrafted rookie John Rhys Plumlee showcased his versatility this summer by fielding kickoffs while playing quarterback, but it won't be enough.
Because Allen is a veteran with a year of starting experience under his belt, he will serve as the emergency third-string quarterback in the event of injuries to both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Even a bad performance in the preseason finale shouldn't change this.
Steelers' third running back
Despite missing most of training camp and attributing very little in the preseason, there's no question that Cordarrelle Patterson will be Pittsburgh's third running back in 2024. Patterson is a proven veteran who has a history with Arthur Smith.
Most importantly, Patterson is one of the best kick returners in NFL history -- which is one of the main reasons the Steelers signed him in the first place. Mike Tomlin will look to him often with the NFL's new kickoff rules in 2024.
Pittsburgh's final two linebacker spots
After the Steelers selected Payton Wilson in the third round of the NFL Draft and later signed Tyler Matakevich, Mark Robinson's chances of making the roster were looking slim. However, Cole Holcomb is nowhere near ready to play and it looks like he is headed towards beginning the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP).
This opens the door for Robinson to make the team as the final off-ball linebacker. Along with Robinson, Tyler Matakevich's spot should be secure at the position. Both players offer far more value to special teams than to the defense, but with limited competition behind them, both are expected to make the final 53-man roster.
Steelers' primary backup cornerback
Since the beginning of the offseason, Pittsburgh's cornerback position has been in question. Adding Donte Jackson from the Panthers in the Diontae Johnson trade added some depth and stability to the position. Jackson is expected to operate across from Joey Porter Jr. this year.
As far as backup boundary cornerbacks go, a clear frontrunner has emerged. Cory Trice Jr. has shown the ability to stay healthy and has been impressive all summer. Based on his performance in August, I would expect Trice to be the primary backup to both Porter and Jackson. He could also see work in Pittsburgh's dime defense.