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Steelers Scouting Report: New York Jets, Week 1

Originally posted on Steel City Underground | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 10:40 AM ET

Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2025 NFL regular season ahead of the games to preview the upcoming matchup with a focus on key players, potential outcomes, news, and the latest social media chatter.

As Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin inferred in his Tuesday press conference ahead of the team’s season opener, every Week 1 game in the NFL carries some uncertainty. The New York Jets have made numerous changes to their staff and personnel since the Steelers faced them last season, but Tomlin reiterated that – despite that – Pittsburgh is headed into the first game of the 2025 NFL regular season with confidence.

Facing Fields, stopping the run

Quarterback Justin Fields left Pittsburgh during free agency and has been handed the reins to run the offense for New York. Although the Steelers are familiar with the 26 year old, the Jets showed their hand a bit in the preseason; Fields is less likely to be a heavy passer than a mobile threat.

Michael Nania of JetsXFactor gave the following prediction about Fields:

“I believe Fields will throw the ball even less often than his already-low volume throughout his career… I expect a drop in pass attempts for Fields and a rise in rush attempts.”

This is now the second time Jets G Alijah Vera-Tucker has suffered a triceps injury in his NFL career.

He also went down with the same season-ending injury back in 2022, but that was on the opposite arm to his latest tricep injury. https://t.co/8w4k0ZirSK

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 3, 2025

With the Jets offensive line comprised primarily of Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann , Armand Membou… a ground-based run-heavy offense looks to be the bread and butter of New York’s scheme. Behind that line, Fields will be navigating handoffs to Braelon Allen and Breece Hall as primary running backs while looking for opportunities to use his own legs in between passing plays.

Justin Fields over the last 3 seasons has averaged 31.3 scramble yards & 0.26 scramble TDs per game, the BEST in the NFL over that time, per @PFHOFAmbassador

Justin Fields is the best running QB we’ve ever had & I Can’t Wait to see him in action #Jets pic.twitter.com/9JzKeY7oCt

— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 30, 2025

The Steelers didn’t utilize many of their starters during the preseason, and with semi-committal answer from Tomlin as to how much Cameron Heyward will be playing – Derrick Harmon‘s injury removing the rookie from the equation – the defense will need to be ready to stop the run with help from the linebackers and a committee of defensive linemen that includes rookie Yahya Black.

“I think Coach (Aaron) Glenn has been very transparent about their desire to run the football and their commitment to do so, and so that has our attention as we prepare,” Tomlin said on Tuesday. “(Braelon) Allen really burst on to the scene a year ago as a rookie out of Wisconsin. He’s got a downhill run demeanor and style. The pile always seems to fall in the direction he desires it to. Breece Hall is multi-talented. He can run inside, he can run outside, he had a lot of explosion plays [against us] a year ago on the perimeter.”

Braelon Allen looked great yesterday, running tough while averaging 4.9 yards per carry #Jets pic.twitter.com/aiFl0EN2SN

— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 17, 2025

Rodgers/Glenn reunion ready?

Zero preseason snaps for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Is the newly-minted Steelers offensive captain ready for a reunion with the Jets? Will his former team have a few surprises for him?

Coach Glenn has history with Rodgers from time they both spent in the NFC North, and Glenn (while with the Detroit Lions) got the best of ARod twice. Off to a solid start in 2022, Rodgers came back from a broken thumb but declined. Glenn forced heavy man coverage on Packers receivers, forcing tight windows while pressure was applied to the pocket. In the two games against Detroit, Rodgers’ passer rating was 52.5 and he had a 7.5% interception rate.

FTN Fantasy broke down Rodgers’ 2024 man vs zone coverage numbers as follows;:

Vs. man coverage: 6.3 yards per attempt (30th), -0.02 EPA per dropback (28th), -7.4% DVOA (27th)
Vs. zone coverage: 7.1 yards per attempt (14th), 0.08 EPA per dropback (17th), -3.1% DVOA (23rd)

Glenn would love nothing more than to utilize a similar tactic with the Jets in a reunion with Rodgers in Week 1. There’s a question of personnel, though. Are Sauce Gardner, Tony Adams, Andre Cisco, Brandon Stephens and the Jets defensive backfield ready to go one-on-one with D.K. Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson and a number of Steelers receiving targets, minus Robert Woods (who was released Tuesday at his request)?