Steelers Stock Watch: Pair of rookies highlight players who have seen a decline in their hype after preseason Week 1

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated Aug 11, 2025 10:55 AM ET

While it's peaches and cream in Steelers camp after Week 1 of the preseason, there is still a lot of work to do.

That's especially true for some more than others after the Week 1 exhibition against the Jaguars.

Here are the players who have seen a slight dip in their stock after Week 1 of the preseason...

RB Kaleb Johnson

A couple of disclaimers here for Johnson. For one, the first team offensive line was missing arguably their best run blocker via Isaac Seumalo, and the second team was essentially the third team line due to all their injuries.

But even within that context, Johnson's debut left something to be desired. He totaled just 20 yards on the ground on eight carries, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry. He had a dropped pass early in the game, and he just looked out of sync and rushed all night.

For a player whose game is built on being buttery smooth and fluid, he looked a little robotic. Personally, I'm going to chalk it up to rookie jitters and an underwhelming offensive line. I expect the rook to bounce back against the Bucs. Johnson did force a missed tackle on Jaguars star rookie Travis Hunter, and we've seen him have his moments in camp, but the struggles continued on Saturday.

QB Will Howard

How does a player that didn't even take a snap experience a drop in stock, you might ask? Simple, go look at the numbers that Howard's primary competition, Skylar Thompson, put up: over 230 yards passing and three touchdowns while completing over 70% of his passes.

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That's not to say Howard wouldn't have done the exact same if not better. But there is an old saying in the NFL: "you can't make the club in the tub," or if you're injured and can't play, it's going to be hard to make the team.

And while I think Howard's spot on the roster is rock solid barring an unforeseen decision, it's hard to ignore how efficient both Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson were in his absence.

WR Robert Woods

With no Calvin Austin III, or DK Metcalf in the starting lineup, Roman Wilson received the wide receiver No.1 role, and he did a nice job. The first play of the game was a hookup off play action from Rudolph to Wilson, and he had some manufactured touches after that.

Only preseason, but Roman Wilson fighting through contact and making plays at the top of the route is promising. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/Z4bbKxjL8o
— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) August 10, 2025

Outside of Wilson, well it was the undrafted trio of Max Hurleman, Roc Taylor and Ke'Shawn Williams who stole the show in the WR corps. Very little was heard from Robert Woods, who ended the game with one catch for four yards.

Pittsburgh needs all the depth they can get at WR, so I don't foresee Woods being released, but it's hard to ignore what the rookies did on Saturday.