6 Steelers surprises in Saturday’s win against the Jaguars

Each week, our SCU staff and contributors spotlight the biggest “surprises” from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest matchup. Keep reading to see which plays and moments caught us off guard!

The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2025 preseason with a 31–25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday at EverBank Stadium. There was a strong showing from quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, who combined for four touchdown passes, while the defense held strong in key late-game situations. The victory gave fans a glimpse of Pittsburgh’s depth and playmaking potential—even with many starters sitting out.

Here are a few surprises from that game.

Skylar Thompson

No player benefited more from this game than Skylar Thompson, who saw his playing time extend to nearly three full quarters after rookie Will Howard—his primary competition for the starting job—was sidelined early due to injury. With Howard out, Thompson seized the opportunity to showcase his command of the offense, delivering a confident and efficient performance that could significantly shift the depth chart conversation heading into next week.

Thompson took advantage of the situation, as he threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns, showing poise and precision—especially on deep strikes to Ke’Shawn Williams and Max Hurleman.

Mason Rudolph

Despite limited snaps, Rudolph delivered an efficient outing, throwing for 84 yards and a touchdown while maintaining rhythm and control throughout his drives. He was 9-of-10 on passing for the day before being pulled after the second series.

His highlight came on a well-placed 17-yard strike to tight end Darnell Washington, threading the ball between defenders for the score and demonstrating his ability to capitalize on red zone opportunities.

Max Hurleman

Hurleman, a relative unknown throughout camp thus far, hauled in three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. He emerged as a dependable option for Skylar Thompson throughout the game.

Hurleman consistently found soft spots in coverage and proved especially clutch on third downs, helping extend drives with precise route-running and strong hands. His chemistry with Thompson was evident, making him a key contributor in the passing attack, despite being a running back.

Within a deep position group, Hurleman’s performance may have allowed him to standout as a practice squad hopeful who can bring other dimensions to the Steelers backfield.

Yahya Black

In just 10 preseason snaps against the Jaguars, rookie defensive lineman Yahya Black made an impact, earning an impressive 82.3 grade from Pro Football Focus—the third-highest among all Steelers defenders.

Black’s standout moment came on a punishing run stop against Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, where Black showcased elite hand usage and raw power, prompting NFL analyst Brian Baldinger to ask, “Is he a member of the Steel Curtain?”

At 6’6″, 336 pounds, with a massive 35-inch wingspan, Black brings rare physical traits to the Steelers’ front. Drafted in the fifth round out of Iowa, he’s already turning heads nationally and building a strong case for playing time in the regular season.

Cole Holcomb

Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Jaguars marked a long-awaited return for linebacker Cole Holcomb, who took his first NFL snaps since suffering a serious knee injury in 2023.

After missing the remainder of that season and sitting out all of 2024, Holcomb finally stepped back onto the field, describing the moment as “a long time coming” and admitting, “I had every emotion going on… but once we got back out there, it was just ball all over again.”

While he struggled against the run—earning a team-low 34.8 PFF grade in that category—Holcomb showed flashes of his old form in pass coverage. He delivered a well-timed hit to help break up a hook route and made a key third-down stop on Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby, reminding coaches and fans alike of the instincts and toughness that made him a defensive anchor before the injury.

Darnell Washington

“Mount Washington” rumbled onto the scene Saturday evening, catching a laser of a pass from Rudolph and bulldozing his way over a Jacksonville defender into the end zone.

The 19-yard touchdown connection would’ve been memorable enough, but Washington took the ball and dunked it through the goal posts, drawing a penalty: and the ire of his coaches!