Steelers Winners And Losers From The First 2023 Preseason Matchup

The highly-anticipated return of the Pittsburgh Steelers became reality on Friday night when the team took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in both organization's first game of the 2023 preseason. Mike Tomlin's team came out on top, 27-17, and there were both positives and negatives to take out of the contest for both franchises. Let's dive into who the winners and losers were for the Steelers down in Tampa Bay. 

Steelers Winners

1.) Calvin Austin III

The long-awaited NFL debut of wide receiver, Calvin Austin III finally arrived and his speed was as advertised. He was used out of the backfield and took handoffs while also getting behind the defense on the first play of scrimmage in the second half which led to a pass interference call. That wasn't the only damage he would do in his first NFL action.

Almost halfway through the third quarter, Mason Rudolph found a wide open Austin for a 67-yard score. The Steelers offense has a legitimate chance to surprise the entire league if Austin turns into a weapon in both the running and passing game. He accounted for nearly 100 yards from scrimmage and not many defenders will be able to keep up with him if he remains healthy. The AFC North is in for a rude awakening when Austin becomes a focal part of the offense.

2.) Kenny Pickett And Diontae Johnson

The duo of Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson may have had only one series, but it was certainly a positive one. George Pickens ended up catching a pass on the group's first drive of the game that ended up in a 33-yard score, but the chemistry and consistency between Pickett and Johnson was certainly on display early and something to watch. The duo connected for three passes that went for 32 yards. That was good for half of the quarterback's six completions.

Pickett was near perfect as he threw seven passes and found a receivers' hands on six of them. He capped off a solid first drive of 2023 with the touchdown pass that was longer than any offensive score the team had in 2022. The hype surrounding Pickett will only grow after a great first outing, even if it is just the preseason.

3.) Keeanu Benton

The Steelers seemed to have had an incredible 2023 NFL Draft and the diamond in the rough may end up being defensive lineman, Keeanu Benton, who was drafted in the second round. 

He didn't necessarily light up the stat sheet, but was the first in the backfield when the defense stopped the Buccaneers on a fourth and short in the second quarter. He disrupted the Buccaneers offense throughout the game and Steelers fans should be ecstatic about his debut, aside from an ankle injury that kept him from continuing on later in the contest.

4.) Anthony McFarland Jr.

There was a time when no one was quite sure who would take over the third running back slot on the Steelers depth chart. Anthony McFarland Jr. may have put any debate to rest Friday evening. He ran the ball three times for 18 yards which included a 14-yard score. The volume of his work wasn't extensive, but the fact that he wasn't involved in the offense once the third quarter started proves where he stands on the depth chart right now in Tomlin's eyes.

5.) Elijah Riley

A lot of talk in Steelers camp has been surrounding safety, Kenny Robinson, but he isn't the one who showed out in the team's first preseason game. Elijah Riley came to town in August of 2022 and while he was only active for four games during the 2022 regular season, the defender found his way back to the defensive conversation for 2023.

Riley is very much in the running to have a role when it comes to the slot cornerback position and after an impressive tackle for loss as well as solid special teams reps, he put himself in a great place after the contest in Tampa Bay. 

6.) Nick Herbig 

Linebacker, Nick Herbig joins Benton as another impressive rookie. He had two quarterback hits as well as one and a half sacks. He may not be in line to start with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith ahead of him, but he surely proved he was worth a fourth-round pick. While it's way too early to call Herbig a pivotal piece of the defense, his promising play will absolutely give Tomlin and Defensive Coordinator, Teryl Austin the ability to give Watt and Highsmith a breather if needed come the regular season.

Steelers Losers

1.) James Pierre

The Steelers secondary has had some injury issues since the beginning of 2023 training camp, but that doesn't mean no one is expendable. James Pierre looked lost early on in the game and was the main reason the defense allowed Baker Mayfield to find Trey Palmer for a score in the second quarter. It was a solid throw by the quarterback, but Pierre didn't jump at the proper time and was completely turned around. 

The cornerback was also at fault when Kyle Trask found receiver, David Moore for a 23-yard play. Pierre is currently expected to make the 53-man roster, but sits behind Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace on the left side per the Steelers depth chart, according to ESPN. Mistakes early on in the preseason can only hurt his cause. Don't let his team-leading nine tackles fool you; he wasn't great.

2.) Mitchell Trubisky

There isn't a quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh heading into the 2023 season. There isn't much of a conversation for who will be the second-string signal-caller, either, but Mitchell Trubisky didn't have a strong outing on Friday. He had a clutch third-down conversion nearly midway through the second quarter when he found Connor Heyward for a 10-yard conversion which then led to a McFarland touchdown, but a stat line of 1/4, 10 yards and an interception was wildly underwhelming. 

He exited the game after the scoring drive, but if, for some reason, anyone out there believed that Trubisky might be a better option with the first team over Pickett, they were proved wrong on Friday.

3.) Kendrick Green

The videos and excitement regarding offensive lineman, Kendrick Green playing as a fullback may be the only reasons he makes the 53-man roster. Green, who played center for a solid amount of snaps, had a critical holding call late in the first half as the offense was driving and immediately after snapped the ball over Rudolph's head. He single-handedly ruined the possession.

To make matters worse for Green, newly-signed Nate Herbig began the second half at center. It's extremely likely Herbig works into the backup role and Green has a slim chance to make the 53-man roster as a rotational lineman and maybe, as a fullback?

4.) Cody White

The Steelers have an absolutely stacked wide receiver room and while Cody White wasn't the worst player on the field, he certainly didn't do himself any favors. He almost cost the offense points at the end of the first half when he caught a pass and danced around trying to find the sideline rather than simply getting down immediately. He also dropped a pass that Rudolph put right in his hands.

White is a long shot to make the roster, but didn't make a strong case for himself on Friday. There are four pass catchers who will undoubtedly make the 53-man roster in Johnson, Pickens, Allen Robinson II and Austin. White will most likely find himself on the practice squad or on a different team come September.

The 2023 season is officially underway and the Steelers began with a solid outing in all phases of the game. There were definitely more winners than losers. Pittsburgh will return to practice on Sunday and begin to prepare for a second preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 19th.

Who are your winners and losers from the Steelers first preseason game in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!

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