Steelers rookie will play critical role in Week 1

The Steelers have one of the toughest Week 1 matchups, taking on the 49ers, who've been to back-to-back NFC title games, and one of Pittsburgh's rookies could be the difference between a win or a loss.

Over the past couple of weeks, one of the NFL's biggest storylines was whether San Francisco would pay DE Nick Bosa, the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, or if he would continue his holdout into the regular season.

Before Wednesday, most were beginning to lean toward the latter, but that's no longer the case. The 49ers signed Bosa to a record-breaking five-year, $170 million deal, meaning the Steelers will likely see him on Sunday.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan did say San Francisco will "be smart with it" but that "he'd have to have a beer belly and be out of shape" to not play.

So, what does that mean for Pittsburgh?

Obviously, the Steelers will now have a tougher challenge, specifically on the offensive line. However, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that Pittsburgh was already preparing for Bosa.

How do you prepare for a player who had 18.5 sacks a season ago? How about with a massive 6-foot-7, 265-pound tight end/extra offensive lineman?

Enter rookie TE Darnell Washington, the Steelers' 2023 third-round pick. Washington has impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, even winning one-on-one reps against LB T.J. Watt, the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Now, his first test in the regular season is certainly a big one.

Pittsburgh will likely use Washington as a sixth offensive lineman to help block Bosa on Sunday. If successful, the Steelers' chances of winning will rise. If Bosa is still able to wreak havoc, it could be a long day for Pittsburgh's young offense.