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The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their preseason this week, with the Green Bay Packers coming to town for what figures to be a fun battle between two historic franchises. With plenty of storylines about young players heading into the game, let’s project what the Steelers’ depth chart may look like, using our friend Grok.
Aug 03, 2026; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to throw a pass as Will Howard (18) watches during a practice session at Training camp at Saint Vincent College.
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers are finally preparing to hit someone with a different colored jersey this Thursday. A preseason opener at home, in front of a national audience, and against a team that the head coach and QB have history with is about the best start to a preseason that you could ask for.
While we await to see if Aaron Rodgers will be on the field against his former team for potentially the last time, everyone will have their eyes fixated on the other QBs, with both Will Howard and Drew Allar slated to make their preseason debut. That, along with how other rookies like Eli Heidenreich look and the offensive linemen outside of Max Iheanchor, will be a big factor as well, so we asked Grok to help us project what Thursday’s lineup might look like.
Steelers 2026 preseason schedule
Steelers preseason schedule
Week 1 vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday, August 13).
Week 2 vs. New York Jets (Friday, August 21).
Week 3 at Buffalo Bills (Thursday, August 27).
Pittsburgh Steelers projected depth chart ahead of the preseason opener vs. the Green Bay Packers
This is based primarily on the team’s initial official preseason depth chart (released ~Aug. 5) and the Ourlads chart updated Aug. 10, with notes on fluidity, injuries/PUP status, and recent reporting. Depth charts remain fluid in training camp under new head coach Mike McCarthy; starters are not locked, and preseason play will further clarify roles.
Offense
PositionStarterBackupDepthQBAaron RodgersMason RudolphWill Howard, Drew AllarRBJaylen WarrenRico DowdleKaleb Johnson, Eli Heidenreich, Travis Homer, Lew NicholsFBRiley Nowakowski——LWRDK MetcalfBen SkowronekLevi Wentz, othersRWRMichael Pittman Jr.Germie BernardBrandon Smith, Joaquin DavisSWR (slot)Roman WilsonKaden WetjenMax Hurleman, Jakobie Keeney-JamesTEPat FreiermuthDarnell WashingtonRobert Tonyan, Jaheim Bell, Lake McRee, Lance MasonLTTroy FautanuBroderick JonesJack DriscollLGMason McCormickGennings Dunker—CZach FrazierRyan McCollumGreg CrippenRGSpencer AndersonBrock HoffmanSteven JonesRTDylan CookMax IheanachorDoug Nester
Notes: Rudolph holds the QB2 edge over Howard for now. Warren is listed ahead of Dowdle. Wilson starts in the slot. The OL is set as projected, with first-rounder Iheanachor as the top RT backup. Nowakowski is the clear FB.
Defense (base 3-4)
PositionStarterBackupDepthDE (L)Derrick HarmonGabriel RubioAnthony Goodlow, Kevin Jobity Jr.NTYahya BlackSebastian Joseph-DayEsezi Otomewo, Kyler BaughDT/DE (R)Cameron HeywardKeeanu BentonLogan Lee, Dean LowryLOLBT.J. WattNick HerbigJamin DavisLILBPatrick QueenCarson BruenerJacoby WindmonRILBPayton WilsonCole HolcombMalik HarrisonROLBAlex HighsmithJack SawyerJulius WelschofLCBJoey Porter Jr.*Asante Samuel Jr.D’Shawn Jamison, Tamon LynumRCBJamel DeanDaylen EveretteDoneiko Slaughter, Daryl PorterNBJalen Ramsey*Brandin EcholsDonte Kent*, Devan BoykinSSDeShon ElliottRobert Spears-JenningsSebastian Castro, Israel MukuamuFSJaquan BriskerJack HendersonRayshawn Jenkins
Notes: The biggest early surprise is second-year Yahya Black listed as the starting nose tackle, with Benton shifted more toward end/DT (a positional tweak coaches have discussed). Bruener ranks ahead of Harrison in the ILB group.
Porter Jr. (back) and Ramsey (knee) opened camp on the active/PUP list; both have been progressing with field work and are expected to return soon (possibly limited or held for regular-season readiness). Kent is also on PUP. Elliott has been limited while recovering from prior hamstring issues. Depth will get heavy preseason reps while these players ramp up.
Special Teams
PositionStarter / PrimaryOthersKChris BoswellLaith MarjanP / HCameron Johnston—LSChristian Kuntz—KRKaden WetjenJaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Eli HeidenreichPRKaden WetjenRico Dowdle, Donte Kent
Notes: Rookie Wetjen is the clear primary returner.
This projection reflects the most recent available official and scouting charts heading into the Packers game. Expect adjustments after the first preseason contest and as players return from PUP/injury management. Sources include the team’s initial depth chart reports, Ourlads (updated Aug. 10), and contemporaneous coverage.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t practice for very long on Monday, but that didn’t stop us from seeing where the team was on the injury front, and it was good news all around for a pair of rookies who missed time last week.
Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News