Six Key Steelers to Watch in Preseason Game Two

Howard will get the first half all to himself, barring any unforeseen incidents. He looked comfortable during the Steelers’ two-minute drill that put points on the board, and there was a lot to like about his game.

Now, he needs to take another step forward. If he wants to claim the QB2 job, which could set up more opportunities in 2027, he will need to continue elevating his game.

Derrick Harmon

Harmon is going to have a serious opportunity to prove he can be the future of the Steelers’ interior defensive line in 2026. He showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, but now he needs to elevate his game once again.

Specifically, Harmon needs to show growth as a pass rusher. He doesn’t have a lot of moves in his arsenal yet, but he has two established veterans who can help him develop in that area. The preseason is a good opportunity to test out some new moves.

Robert Spears-Jennings

Spears-Jennings can do a lot to continue making his case for the 53-man roster. He made a strong play in the run game last week that stood out. His speed is undeniable, but it’s the other duties of a safety that he needs to continue developing.

Can he grow his game and carve out a capable free safety role? As it stands, he is best suited to play strong safety. Either way, he was fun to watch last Thursday night.

Troy Fautanu/Dylan Cook

Fautanu and Cook had some rough moments last week. There’s no doubt Fautanu can bounce back, but the Steelers might feel better if he shows it sooner rather than later. Switching sides isn’t an easy transition to make.

Both tackles are going to find themselves in plenty of isolation situations. These reps are important as they continue ramping up for the regular season.

Kaden Wetjen

The biggest play last Thursday night was Wetjen’s 74-yard catch and run. While McCarthy was pleased to see the big play, he made it clear he expected Wetjen to score. He wants to see Wetjen continue to make strides.

Wetjen also could use some bigger returns after the Steelers’ special teams units had an underwhelming week. With some work under their belts, they should be able to show more cohesion in preseason game No. 2.

Brock Hoffman/Spencer Anderson

This has suddenly become a potential battle on the Steelers’ hands. Hoffman got some first-team reps in practice this week, while Anderson has held down the right guard spot to this point.

Can Hoffman make this competition interesting?