5 Steelers on the roster bubble entering final preseason game

As the preseason wraps up and the regular season looms on the horizon, the Steelers 53 man roster seems mostly set. However, some injuries and underperformance have opened the door for some change to that roster.

Saturday's preseason finale against the Lions will be the last chance for these 5 Steelers on the roster bubble to prove that they should get a roster spot going forward.

1. Jonathan Ward, RB

A week ago, it seemed as if Ward was destined to go to the practice squad following roster cuts. The speedy veteran had impressed in camp, but the Steelers running back was three deep already. However, an injury to Jaylen Warren during last Saturday's loss to the Bills leaves his availability for Week 1 a big question. If Warren isn't healthy enough when the season begins, Ward could be needed on the 53-man roster.

A good performance in Detroit on Saturday could bode well for Ward's chances at making the roster. A lackluster one could have Ward packing his bags.

2. Scotty Miller, WR

As of the time of this writing, the Steelers have not completed any kind of trade for Brandon Aiyuk, so the wide receiver room looks like it'll remain the same entering Week 1. That's a positive sign for former Buccaneers speedster Scotty Miller, who still finds himself on the roster bubble entering this weekend. Miller is primarily a slot receiver and the Steelers already have two of those on the roster in Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III.

Miller can return kicks, which provides extra value to the roster, but as things stand right now, he's fighting with Dez Fitzpatrick and Que Watkins for those final receiver spots. Miller needs a solid preseason finale to guarantee a spot. As of now, he'll be waiting with bated breath for the roster cuts to be announced.

3. Isiahh Loudermilk, DT

Loudermilk is no stranger to being on the roster bubble. It seems like every year he's found himself as one of the last names to make the 53-man roster. This season, that could change if Loudermilk doesn't perform in Detroit. He's currently in a battle with veteran Dean Lowry and rookie Logan Lee for the final spot along that defensive line., alongside Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, Keeanu Benton, and Montravius Adams.

If Loudermilk can't set himself apart from the competition, he could be looking for a new home following roster cuts. Saturday's game is huge for him and could determine who snags that last roster spot.

4. Jeremiah Moon, OLB

The Steelers' outside linebacker room is one of the best in football, with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig set to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Moon is hoping to be a part of that room, but he's in a tight battle for that fourth OLB spot. His main competition is Kyron Johnson, the third-year man out of Kansas. Both Johnson and Moon have flashed in the preseason, with Moon picking up a sack in the first week of the preseason.

Moon and Johnson are both the same age and have similar NFL experience, so that battle could come down to who plays better on Saturday. Moon needs a big performance to make the roster, otherwise, he could find himself on the practice squad.

5. Ryan Watts, CB

A sixth-round pick out of Texas in this year's draft, Watts finds himself amid an intriguing battle for roster spots in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and DeShon Elliott will be the starters for that unit, but the depth behind them is still up in the air. Watts can play corner and safety, which gives him coveted position flexibility. However, Damontae Kazee and Miles Killebrew seem like locks to make the roster in the safety room, leaving a battle at cornerback for Watts.

It seems like it'll come down to Watts and Darius Rush for that final spot. Neither one has done a whole lot this offseason to separate themselves from the pack, but a strong game on Saturday could win one of them a roster spot. Watts will need to be at his best to ensure a spot on the 53-man roster.