Three Steelers Whose Roster Odds Improved After Jets Game

Mason Rudolph

Ironically enough, one of the biggest winners from Pittsburgh's victory over the Jets didn't even play in the contest.

Rudolph, who started against the Green Bay Packers in the preseason opener and completed 10 of his 11 passing attempts for 93 yards, was sidelined vs. New York after head coach Mike McCarthy stated that he, "saw what he needed to," from him.

For a good chunk of the offseason, Rudolph was viewed as expendable and likely to find himself as the odd man out in Pittsburgh's quarterback room.

Once training camp began, however, it became increasingly apparent that Rudolph was the favorite to win the backup job over Will Howard while Drew Allar would slot in at the bottom of the depth chart with his roster spot guaranteed as a third-round rookie.

Because Howard showed some flashes against the Packers by going 7-of-9 for 86 yards, however, there was some quiet speculation that Rudolph's name could start popping up in trade conversations ahead of the regular season.

Howard essentially wrecked his chances of usurping Rudolph and taking the No. 2 role with a two-interception showing against the Jets, though, further cementing the latter's status as the second-in-command to Aaron Rodgers and keeping him off the trade block.

Rayshawn Jenkins

The math at the safety position may become a little tougher now that Jalen Ramsey is off the PUP list, though Jenkins has to feel rather secure about where he stands ahead of final roster cuts.

It didn't always feel like a guarantee that Pittsburgh would hold onto four safeties if Ramsey were healthy, and Robert Spears-Jennings' involvement on the first-team defense in training camp coupled with his solid preseason debut against the Packers put Jenkins on thin ice when it came to cracking the 53-man roster.

Jenkins knew what was on the line vs. New York, however, as he flew around the field and made a couple of plays as a blitzer, including forcing Cade Klubnik into an intentional grounding penalty.

The 32-year-old's physicality flew off the screen in the run game as well, and overall Jenkins looked like a man on a mission.

It's not necessarily a 100 percent lock that the Steelers will keep four safeties on their initial 53-man roster, but that feels like the way things are headed with the way Jenkins performed against the Jets.

Robert Tonyan

Tonyan continues to fill the role of a quarterback's best friend, and it has led to him being all but assured a 53-man roster spot at this point.

The 32-year-old signed with Pittsburgh in June largely as a byproduct of his preexisting relationship with Aaron Rodgers from their five years playing together as members of the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2022, a span during which Tonyan logged 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns on 137 catches.

He posted just one receiving yard between the 2024 and 2025 campaigns while filling more of a special teams role. If training camp and the preseason are any indication, however, Tonyan might be in line for a bit of an offensive resurgence this year.

After finishing with 61 yards on four receptions vs. the Packers, Tonyan caught both of his targets against the Jets for 17 yards, one of which went for 12 yards on a crossing route with a defender right on him.

Tonyan is the clear No. 3 tight end, and he should have some real opportunities to make an impact once the regular season arrives.