5 Losers, 3 Winners From Steelers Loss to Browns

Winner: T.J. Watt

Watt was not nearly as effective in Week 3 as he was over the first two games of the season, failing to log a single pressure against the Bengals (per Pro Football Focus).

The 31-year-old bounced back with a sack in the fourth quarter, though, and he made a few other splash plays with his forced fumble and recovery on a read option by Deshaun Watson as well as his break-up of a screen pass to Quinshon Judkins on 3rd-and-13 from the Browns' own 12-yard line early in the third quarter.

Loser: Payton Wilson

Truth be told, Wilson wasn't any better than Queen in this one.

From whiffing on what should've been an easy tackle on Raheim Sanders in the third quarter to completely misplaying a screen pass to KC Concepcion late in the second quarter, Wilson left too many plays on the field (even if he had a sack on the Browns' last drive of the game) and desperately needs to improve if he wants to be a part of the Steelers' future.

Loser: Max Iheanachor

Growing pains were always going to present themselves for Iheanachor, whom the Steelers knew was a raw prospect upon taking him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Arizona State product's first start of his career at right tackle went about as well as it could've vs. Cincinnati, though SumerSports credited him with allowing a total of five pressures and two sacks against the Browns, making him the most unreliable piece up front throughout the contest for Pittsburgh.

Winner: DK Metcalf

Metcalf's struggles over the opening weeks of the campaign, particularly with drops, were well-documented.

He wasn't perfect against the Bengals, though he did haul in his first touchdown of the year, and he built some serious momentum vs. Cleveland.

Metcalf came out and proved why he's the Steelers' No. 1 wide receiver, really coming alive in the fourth quarter and finishing the game with a team-high 115 yards on five catches.

Rodgers also missed an opportunity to hit him wide-open for a 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter, which would've boosted his numbers and overall impact even further.

Loser: Jaquan Brisker

Brisker hasn't been super sharp for the Steelers all year essentially, and that remained the case against the Browns.

Though a defensive holding penalty on Asante Samuel Jr. made it irrelevant, Brisker's inability to tackle Watson on a scramble in the open field on a 3rd-and-4 in the fourth quarter speaks volumes about where his level of play currently stands.

Furthermore, he allowed three receptions in coverage on three targets for 31 yards (per SumerSports).

Loser: Daylen Everette

Following the trade of Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, Everette has been thrust into a role that might end up being a bit too large for him as a rookie.

According to SumerSports, the third-round pick allowed 84 yards to fellow rookie Denzel Boston and generally looked both overmatched and overwhelmed in coverage.