5 positional battles still raging ahead of the Steelers last preseason game

The preseason is set to wrap up and final roster cuts will be made next week. For the Steelers, most of their core starting spots are accounted for and even some backups have already cemented themselves as roster candidates. Despite it being this close to the regular season though, there are quite a few positional groups whose battle is still raging.

While not all of these battles are for starting spots, each player on it is squarely in contention for a roster spot to open the season. With one final game to prove things, it will be essential to make the most of your opportunities. Here are the five quintessential roster battles still raging ahead of the final preseason game.

Steelers tight end room battle

The least impactful battle still going on is in the tight end room. I almost left this battle off this list, as there is no guarantee that the team carries four tight ends, and the top three names are set in stone at this point. However, with the odds of Jack Colletto making the roster as a traditional fullback now slim, Connor Heyward will serve as a hybrid fullback and tight end, making a fourth in an Arthur Smith offense a good bet.

This brews down that final spot to Rodney Williams or MyCole Pruitt. Williams is a converted wide receiver with some offensive appeal but has mostly been a special teams player to this point (which is good for a fourth-string tight end). Pruitt lacks the special teams ability but is a good blocker and a favorite of Smith, having played with him both in Atlanta and Tennessee.

Right now, the edge goes to Pruitt, who has been outplaying Williams to this point due to being healthier. That battle isn’t over, but it likely won’t come down to offensive ability at this point. If Williams can make a big splash on special teams though, he could sneak back onto the roster. If not, the practice squad seems like a safe bet.

Steelers receiver room battle

Akin to the tight end room, the receiver battle doesn’t have much to do with the top of the depth chart. Geroge Pickens was always the starter, and it became very apparent early on that Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin had locked up the second and slot spots respectively. Roman Wilson, despite being injured, will figure into the rotation at some point. This leaves the fifth spot wide open.

The team did their due diligence by adding a slew of mediocre names on cheap deals. Quez Watkins seemed like the early favorite while Scotty Miller was also in the mix given his experience. Dez Fitzpatrick was a holdover from the practice squad and Marquez Callaway had success in the league in the past. Any of those names wouldn’t have been shocking to gain some traction.

Technically speaking, Callaway is the only non-option at this point due to him having been released. Watkins also has done little to warrant a spot, meaning that this battle is down to Miller and Fitzpatrick. Miller is faster and could be the better threat on offense, but Fitzpatrick has the ever-important special teams ability. I give him the edge right now, but this is still an open competition ahead of the last preseason game.

Steelers edge room battle

The Steelers once again have one of the deepest edge rooms in the NFL right now. Their starters are two great players. T.J. Watt is elite and arguably the best defender in the league. Alex Highsmith is a great compliment with a wide variety of pass-rush moves. The team also features Nick Herbig as their third option, and he looks electric in limited work.

On paper, the fourth spot doesn’t seem like a vital spot, but the Steelers utilized a heavy rotation at edge rusher last year to great success. It briefly looked like the team was going to have that same four-man group as last year until Markus Golden decided to abruptly retire. Now, the battle boils down to Kyron Johnson and Jeremiah Moon.

Johnson is the better athlete with special teams experience. Moon has freaky size though and better fits the typical edge profile of a Pittsburgh pass rusher. Johnson got a lot of burn in the second preseason game and looked good, so he may be climbing the ranks. This final game should go a long way in determining who winds up making the team.

Steelers tackle room battle

What has now become a major storyline, the Steelers tackle room along the offensive line may not be as strong as many hoped. Despite spending back-to-back first-round picks on the position, this room enters the season with some serious concerns, and the potential of a very familiar face making the surprising start.

The hope was for Broderick Jones to shift back to his natural spot at left tackle while rookie Troy Fautanu would man the right side. According to reports, Fautanu has already secured a starting spot, but injuries have withheld him from playing for most of the preseason. Jones is entirely another issue, as his play has been bad.

His first-week performance wasn’t anything to write home about, but against the Bills, he looked exposed. At this point, it seems like everyone's favorite left tackle Dan Moore is going to start the season back as a starter. This group looks like a mess right now, and Jones is playing for his chance to start right now.

Steelers slot cornerback room battle

The most important battle on this list has to be in the slot. Since Mike Hilton left, the Steelers have failed to properly address the position. While Cameron Sutton did well there as a replacement, the past few seasons have seen a slew of odds and ends try and fill the void with mediocre results.

This year is no different, as the team brought back Sutton despite his suspension and added the usual blend of veteran minimum contracts and an undrafted free agent to the mix. Beanie Bishop had some potential coming out of West Virginia despite going undrafted. He has been given the early nod as the starter on the depth chart.

Grayland Arnold was also making a push before his injury. Now Thomas Graham has also shown up and is making a last-minute push to earn the starting role. Bishop is healthy this week though and should play against the Lions. If he struggles, Graham could be right behind him to secure the starting role for the beginning of the season.