Pittsburgh Steelers news

Rico Dowdle Out, Michael Pittman Jr. Back as Steelers Set Inactives vs. Bengals

Starting RB Rico Dowdle was inactive with a toe injury and Pittsburgh signed and elevated backfield help in a game the division-leading Steelers went on to win.

Joey Porter Jr. Sits Third Straight Game as Contract Talks Linger

Pittsburgh's top cornerback missed a third straight game for what the club calls a non-injury, conditioning-related reason while an extension remains unresolved.

Run-game depth after Dowdle's inactive week atop the AFC North

Porter Jr.'s contract standoff as his third straight absence continues

Dowdle, Dunker out; Pittman and Porter questionable for Bengals

Pittsburgh will be missing a running back and a guard as it hosts a stingy, unbeaten Bengals defense Sunday.

Steelers' offense sits last in yards per play entering Bengals test

Pittsburgh has scored just one touchdown in 25 possessions this season even as its defense ranks among the league's best.

Steelers mailbag: fans debate O-line rotation and roster decisions

A fan mailbag captured mounting questions about Pittsburgh's sputtering offense and personnel choices heading into Sunday.

Steelers' league-worst offense searches for answers before Cincinnati visits.

Rodgers, McCarthy preach patience as Steelers offense searches for answers

Pittsburgh scored just 3 points in a loss to New England; Rodgers and McCarthy have discussed simplifying the playbook ahead of hosting division-leading Cincinnati.

Rodgers and McCarthy hunting for offensive answers after a 3-point outing.

Steelers' Wednesday Injury Report Crowded Ahead of Bengals Game

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, running back Rico Dowdle, cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Cole Holcomb all sat out Wednesday's practice as Pittsburgh preps for a divisional matchup with Cincinnati.

Aaron Rodgers Urges Patience After Steelers' Shutout Loss to Patriots

Rodgers pushed back on panic following a 20-3 loss to New England, telling reporters the offense's struggles come down to execution and preparation rather than scheme, ahead of Pittsburgh's home game against Cincinnati.

A crowded injury list looms over Pittsburgh's divisional test with Cincinnati.

Rodgers is pushing for cleaner execution after a shutout loss.

Steelers injury report: Rico Dowdle (toe) leaves loss to Patriots, Troy Fautanu plays through ankle injury

Dowdle left in the fourth quarter after a tent check, finished with 7 carries for 22 yards; Fautanu played every offensive snap despite not practicing Wednesday. Guard Mason McCormick was attended to on the field for an undisclosed injury.

Column: McCarthy's Steelers offense a "total dud" through two games

Pittsburgh has scored 16 total points through two games under new HC Mike McCarthy, fewer than the first two games under either of his two predecessors. Steelers are 5-for-25 on third downs and lost 20-3 to New England.

Radio host: DK Metcalf "is killing" the Steelers

Metcalf, Pittsburgh's big free-agent addition, had 4 catches on 9 targets for 27 yards with a drop as the offense scored just one touchdown through two games. Host Mark Madden: "DK is killing them, and that's a problem that can't be fixed."

Tomlin critiques Steelers' offense on NBC; Monken fires back

Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, now an NBC analyst, said Pittsburgh "don't have a place to hang their hat" on offense. Browns coach Todd Monken responded pointedly to an earlier Tomlin jab. Steelers host Cincinnati next.

Mike McCarthy's offense has scored fewer points through two games than either of his predecessors did — a growing storyline in Pittsburgh.

Tomlin, now on national TV, says Steelers offense doesn't "have a place to hang their hat"

Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin criticized Pittsburgh's offense — which has scored one touchdown through two games — during an NBC broadcast, extending a media back-and-forth that began with an earlier jab at Cleveland. Pittsburgh next hosts 2-0 Cincinnati.

DK Metcalf held to 27 yards as Steelers fall to Patriots, 20-3

Metcalf caught 4 of 9 targets for 27 yards while shadowed by CB Christian Gonzalez; coach Mike McCarthy tied the offense's struggles to the passing game needing to get untracked heading into the Bengals game.

An offense with one touchdown through two games hosts the division-leading Bengals next.

Steelers' offense stalls in 20-3 loss at New England

Pittsburgh's offense managed just 3 points on the road as Aaron Rodgers threw his first interception of the season and was sacked four times; T.J. Watt had 1.5 sacks but the defense couldn't overcome a strip-sack return TD.

Michael Pittman Jr. ruled out for Patriots game with foot injury

The Steelers' offseason trade addition at receiver missed Week 2 after being downgraded to out Saturday, pushing rookie Germie Bernard and Roman Wilson into bigger roles behind DK Metcalf.

Michael Pittman Jr.'s foot injury and the receiver corps behind DK Metcalf.

Steelers WR Michael Pittman Jr. out for Week 2 vs. Patriots with foot injury

Pittman, Pittsburgh's marquee offseason trade addition, was downgraded to out Saturday after missing practice Thursday and Friday; Roman Wilson and rookie Germie Bernard are expected to see expanded roles behind DK Metcalf.

Steelers rule out CB Joey Porter Jr., list OT Troy Fautanu questionable for Patriots

Porter (conditioning/back) is out Sunday; Fautanu (ankle) is questionable after a full Friday practice, with rookie Max Iheanachor in line for more reps as tackle insurance.

Pittsburgh's receiver depth is being tested early, with Wilson and rookie Bernard stepping in behind Metcalf.

Steelers LT Troy Fautanu misses practice (ankle), WR Michael Pittman Jr. limited (foot) ahead of Patriots

Fautanu, who made his first career start at left tackle in Week 1, did not practice Wednesday; Pittman, who led Pittsburgh in receiving yards in the opener, was limited.

Aaron Rodgers held the ball longer, threw deeper in McCarthy-era debut; Graham vows more blitzing ahead

Next Gen Stats show Rodgers's time-to-throw and air yards both rose sharply under new OC Brian Angelichio; new DC Patrick Graham explained Pittsburgh's league-low 10.5% Week 1 blitz rate and promised more pressure going forward.

T.J. Watt's pick-six powers Steelers past Falcons in Mike McCarthy's coaching debut

Watt had 2 sacks and a 35-yard pick-six in the 20-13 win; Pittsburgh's offense was sloppy (3-for-12 on third downs) but the defense, including a Jaquan Brisker interception, carried the day.

Fautanu and Pittman's Friday status will decide the O-line/receiver plan for the Patriots trip.

New DC Patrick Graham says a higher blitz rate is coming after a league-low Week 1 mark.

Joey Porter Jr. now listed non-injury/conditioning, not back injury

Porter's practice designation shifted from 'back injury' to 'NIR/conditioning' Wednesday, a possible sign the Steelers' corner is moving past the physical issue that kept him out Week 1.

Aaron Rodgers, 42, says his arm 'feels fantastic' entering Patriots game

Rodgers averaged more air yards per attempt in the Week 1 win than any game last season under new OC Brian Angelichio.

Joey Porter Jr.'s injury designation shift hints at a return to full health.

Aaron Rodgers' deep-ball usage is trending up under new OC Angelichio.

T.J. Watt's first career pick-six paces Steelers past Falcons, 20-13, in Mike McCarthy's coaching debut

Watt added two sacks; Aaron Rodgers went 24-of-40 for 221 yards in his first start as a Steeler.

Steelers, CB Joey Porter Jr. remain at a contract impasse as regular season begins

McCarthy confirmed talks are 'at an impasse'; club policy bars in-season negotiations; Porter hasn't allowed a touchdown in coverage since 2023.

Joey Porter Jr.'s contract standoff, with no in-season negotiations allowed, hangs over his walk year.

T.J. Watt's first career pick-six named Steelers' Player of the Week

Watt posted 2 sacks, 3 tackles-for-loss and a fourth-quarter interception returned for a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 20-13 win over Atlanta — Mike McCarthy's debut win as head coach.

McCarthy and Rodgers' first win together in 2,863 days sparks aggressive downfield plan

It had been 2,863 days since Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers shared a coach-QB win before Sunday's victory; OC Brian Angelichio said the staff deliberately called shots downfield to stress Atlanta's single-high coverage looks, while McCarthy said Monday's operation was 'herky jerky' and took blame for play-calling rhythm.

Coordinators detail Watt's 'impossible' pick-six and a near-botched field-goal try

DC Patrick Graham called Watt's interception-return touchdown a play he considers impossible for almost anyone else to make, while special-teams coordinator Danny Crossman said a communication mix-up on a 62-yard field-goal attempt was salvaged into an incompletion rather than a turnover.

McCarthy-Rodgers reunion sparks an aggressive downfield passing identity early.

Watt's pick-six sets a defensive standard heading into New England.

T.J. Watt's first career pick-six lifts Steelers past Falcons, 20-13

Watt returned a Cooper Rush interception 35 yards for a touchdown as Mike McCarthy won his Pittsburgh coaching debut behind a defense that limited Atlanta's passing attack.

Aaron Rodgers hands McCarthy the game ball after debut win

Rodgers, coached by McCarthy for years in Green Bay, gave his new head coach the game ball postgame in what McCarthy called an emotional day.

Revamped Steelers defense mostly contains Bijan Robinson

New DC Patrick Graham's unit held Atlanta to 13 points, though Robinson still gained 173 yards from scrimmage.

Mike McCarthy's debut win, punctuated by T.J. Watt's first career pick-six, sets an early bar for Patrick Graham's defense.

Containing Bijan Robinson-caliber backs remains a live question after Atlanta gained 173 yards from him in the loss.

Steelers enter opener healthy — only Joey Porter Jr. out; Michael Pittman Jr. set for debut vs. Falcons

Pittsburgh opens as one of the league's healthiest rosters, with trade-acquisition WR Michael Pittman Jr. making his first appearance in black and gold alongside season debuts for T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward.

Michael Pittman Jr.'s debut and a fully healthy Watt/Heyward return headline a rare healthy Week 1 for Pittsburgh.

Steelers relatively healthy for opener — only Joey Porter Jr. questionable; Falcons down both QBs

Porter (back) is Pittsburgh's only injury-report name. Atlanta will start Cooper Rush after Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. were both sidelined. S DeShon Elliott is out at least four games.

Steelers to face emergency starter Cooper Rush as both Falcons QBs are sidelined

Pittsburgh previewed the rare opportunity of facing Atlanta's third-string QB situation in Week 1.

Preseason stock report: Mason Rudolph's backup job solidified, O-line still a concern

Pittsburgh's rookie QBs struggled in the preseason finale loss to the Jets, cementing veteran Mason Rudolph as Aaron Rodgers' backup; the offensive line was beaten up front for a second straight preseason game.

Does Cooper Rush's emergency start give Pittsburgh's defense an opening in Atlanta?

Can Joey Porter Jr. play through a back issue without the secondary losing a step?

Does the retooled O-line hold up better than it did in the preseason?

Steelers defense gears up for 'special' Falcons back Bijan Robinson in Week 1

New DC Patrick Graham polled veterans who'd faced Robinson before as Pittsburgh's defense, which returns all seven line starters, prepares for the NFL's reigning yards-from-scrimmage leader.

Steelers injury report: Joey Porter Jr. still limited, Michael Pittman Jr. building toward debut

Porter (back) was limited for a second straight day, while newly acquired WR Michael Pittman Jr. is not on the injury report despite missing the preseason.

Joey Porter Jr.'s back injury tracking into Sunday's opener.

Michael Pittman Jr.'s ramp-up after missing the preseason.

Steelers' revamped defense braces for NFL's top back Bijan Robinson in opener

New DC Patrick Graham polled veterans including T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward on facing Robinson; Pittsburgh held him to 111 yards and no touchdowns in a 2024 meeting.

Joey Porter Jr. back at practice off PUP, but contract extension still unresolved

Porter returned from a training-camp back injury but would not commit to playing Week 1 without a new deal; team policy bars in-season contract talks.

Pittsburgh's revamped defense gets an immediate test from Bijan Robinson.

Joey Porter Jr.'s stalled extension talks remain unresolved into the season.

Steelers' revamped defense braces for Bijan Robinson in home opener

Pittsburgh opens at home against Atlanta and reigning All-Pro RB Bijan Robinson, a direct test for a defense under new coordinator Patrick Graham with a retooled secondary.

A retooled front seven, new DC included, gets an immediate measuring stick in Bijan Robinson.

Undrafted Steelers DL Kevin Jobity Jr. completes long-shot journey to the 53-man roster

Jobity, who didn't start playing football until a shortened 2020 high school season, made Pittsburgh's initial roster as an undrafted rookie after a preseason sack in his hometown of Buffalo.

Jobity's underdog roster story headlines a quiet week of Steelers coverage before the Atlanta opener.

Steelers shift from competition mode to game-plan mode after cuts

HC Mike McCarthy said practice must adapt with 'far fewer players on the field' post-cuts. QB Will Howard said the four-QB room (Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard, Allar) making the roster is exciting.

Steelers' four-QB room set; right tackle battle still open

Pittsburgh kept all four quarterbacks; the starting right tackle job between Dylan Cook and rookie Max Iheanachor remained 'not set in stone' heading into cuts. CB Jalen Ramsey was activated from PUP.

Steelers keep 11 rookies on a veteran-heavy 53-man roster

Pittsburgh kept all 10 draft picks plus one undrafted rookie, traded OT Broderick Jones to Dallas and RB Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay, and placed S DeShon Elliott on IR (out at least four games).

Right tackle job still not locked down between Cook and Iheanachor.

Elliott's IR stint tests Pittsburgh's safety depth to open the season.

McCarthy, Khan explain keeping Eli Heidenreich, four QBs on Steelers' 53-man roster

UDFA RB Eli Heidenreich made the roster over Lew Nichols/Travis Homer on versatility; Steelers also carried four quarterbacks (Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard, Allar).

Aaron Rodgers assesses Steelers' young receivers, backup QBs after final camp

Rodgers praised rookie WR Germie Bernard and named WR Roman Wilson to his personal top-5 camp performers; said backups Will Howard and Drew Allar looked 'ahead' of where he was as a rookie.

McCarthy/Khan explain unconventional roster calls: UDFA RB Heidenreich, four QBs kept.

Rodgers gives an unusually detailed read on Steelers' young receivers and backup QBs.

Joey Porter Jr. back at practice off PUP as extension talk looms

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. returned to practice after a camp-long back injury kept him off the PUP list; GM Omar Khan confirmed extension talks are ongoing for the cornerback entering the final year of his rookie deal, without detailing terms.

Porter's health and eventual extension are the two threads tying together Pittsburgh's secondary outlook.

Three defensive starters (Porter, Brisker, Ramsey) played zero preseason snaps — a Week 1 conditioning watch item.

Mason Rudolph's backup QB job looks safe after Howard, Allar shutout dud

Pittsburgh's young QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar combined for a 46.4 passer rating in a 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets, reinforcing veteran Mason Rudolph's hold on the No. 2 job behind Aaron Rodgers.

O-line, return-game bubble battles take a hit in Jets shutout

Pittsburgh allowed four sacks and averaged 3.8 yards per carry with tackles Broderick Jones and Dylan Cook both beaten up front; return man Kaden Wetjen fumbled a punt and UDFA kicker Laith Marjan missed his only field-goal try.

Backup QB job (Rudolph vs. Howard/Allar) looks resolved barring a late change.

Offensive line and return-game bubble spots still shaky after a rough preseason finale.

Steelers make two trades as part of final roster moves

Pittsburgh traded OT Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick to Dallas for two 2027 picks, and dealt RB Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay for a 2028 sixth-rounder.

Steelers sign 13 to practice squad

Pittsburgh's practice squad mixes retained camp players with UDFA TE Lake McRee (USC) and two International Player Pathway linebackers.

Will Howard's head injury clouds Steelers' four-QB plan

Howard was evaluated for a head injury after Pittsburgh's Aug. 27 preseason finale at Buffalo; a local columnist floated IR and elevating Drew Allar over Howard as a result.

Steelers trim toward 53 in two waves; ILB/D-line crunch still unresolved

Pittsburgh released 11 players Friday and two more Saturday (LB Jamin Davis, WR Levi Wentz) as it works through a deep D-line and inside-linebacker room with more NFL-caliber bodies than roster spots.

All published news this cycle rests solely on steelers.com (official/club-owned) — flagged source_status official_only.

PIT's own desk did not surface the Broderick Jones trade to Dallas this cycle despite it directly involving Pittsburgh (see DAL unit) — a likely sourcing/budget gap on the Pittsburgh beat, flagged for awareness, not treated as a factual dispute.

Steelers fall to Bills 28-27 in preseason finale on late two-point conversion

Buffalo won on a 2-yard touchdown run plus a two-point conversion pass with 1:06 left, finishing preseason 3-0 to Pittsburgh's 1-2. Drew Allar's fourth-and-7 pass on the final drive fell incomplete with 48 seconds left; rookie Kaden Wetjen scored on a 45-yard punt-return touchdown, and Howard (9-of-15, 69 yards, TD, INT) split first-half snaps with Allar (9-of-18, 88 yards).

Steelers face toughest roster calls at D-line and inside linebacker ahead of Sunday's cutdown

TribLive's local preview lays out Pittsburgh's hardest roster decisions: D-line locks are Heyward, Benton, Harmon, Joseph-Day and Black, with Rubio, Lowry and Otomewo on the bubble; at ILB, Queen, Wilson, Holcomb, Harrison, Bruener and Roberts compete, with Harrison viewed as the likeliest cut for cap reasons. Roughly two dozen Steelers will be cut around Thursday's finale at Buffalo.

Cutdown day looms: Steelers face roster crunch on D-line and inside linebacker

Roughly two dozen players will be Steelers for the last time after Thursday's finale at Buffalo; McCarthy called the coming days "stressful," with the D-line (8-10 NFL-caliber players) and a crowded ILB room facing the toughest cuts.

Will Howard, Drew Allar get final preseason audition before cuts

With Aaron Rodgers atop the depth chart, the Howard/Allar QB competition is the clearest development storyline of camp; Pittsburgh was shut out 17-0 by the Jets with both sharing snaps.

Steelers sign DB Brandon Hill (Pitt product), release WR Joaquin Davis

Hill, a 2023 7th-round Texans pick who starred at Pitt, gives Pittsburgh media a local-college-tie transaction story amid the broader roster-trimming cycle.

Steelers trim toward 53, release punter Cameron Johnston ahead of deadline

Pittsburgh released veteran punter Cameron Johnston as part of moves toward the mandatory 53-man roster, reopening a special-teams competition. Also cut in the same wave: LB Mark Robinson, DB D'Shawn Jamison, OL Steve Jones, WR Lance McCutcheon and K Ben Sauls.

Steelers trim toward 53, release punter Cameron Johnston ahead of deadline

Jalen Ramsey comes off PUP list as Steelers ramp up before cutdown

Three-time first-team All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey was activated off PUP Monday; first-round rookie OT Max Iheanachor also returned to practice. Pittsburgh plays its preseason finale at Buffalo Thursday, which coach Mike McCarthy called a 'showcase' evaluation for younger and bubble players before Sunday's cutdown.

Steelers activate CB Jalen Ramsey off PUP, place DB Israel Mukuamu on IR

Ramsey (knee) returned to practice Monday after GM Omar Khan estimated a multi-week absence in late July. Pittsburgh also signed CB Jaylon Guilbeau and RB Alex Tecza.

TribLive columnist: rookie Drew Allar should be Steelers' No. 3 QB now

Joe Starkey argues Allar's mobility and arm talent in Friday's loss to the Jets make him the favorite to be Pittsburgh's QB of the future once Aaron Rodgers moves on.

Steelers shut out 17-0 by Jets; Howard, Allar combine for 2 INTs as offensive line struggles again

Pittsburgh's top defensive starters sat out. Will Howard went 10-of-15 with a pick; Drew Allar was sacked three times. HC Mike McCarthy: 'The detail and execution wasn't as high.'

Mason Rudolph's roster spot looks safer, Elandon Roberts and DeShon Elliott shine in season debuts vs. Jets

The rookie QBs' rough outing reinforces Pittsburgh likely keeps veteran Rudolph as backup; S DeShon Elliott (first game back from a season-ending knee injury) forced a fumble, and LB Elandon Roberts led all players with 5 tackles.

Steelers fall to Jets 17-0; beat writer says Howard and Allar already safe on the 53-man roster

Will Howard (10/15, 74 yards, 2 INT) and Drew Allar (11/23, 110 yards) both struggled, but per beat reporter Gerry Dulac the team has already decided to keep both quarterbacks, leaving Mason Rudolph's roster spot as the remaining question. Note: this result is not yet reflected in the ESPN record endpoint used for this unit's spine fact.

Multiple Steelers rookies and starters sidelined for Jets game with injuries

Rookies Daylen Everette, Gennings Dunker and Max Iheanachor all missed Week 2 with practice injuries; DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. and several others have now missed both preseason games.

Steelers backup QB roster spots reportedly already decided

Will Howard to start tonight vs. Jets; Rodgers, Rudolph held out

Howard is expected to start Friday's home preseason game (7 p.m., Acrisure Stadium) with Drew Allar backing up; neither Aaron Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph will play.

Steelers' injury list grows ahead of Jets game; Metcalf, Pittman both out, new Echols ankle injury

WRs DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. are both out for tonight's game; CB Brandin Echols suffered a foot/ankle injury in Thursday's practice; three players remain on PUP (Ramsey, Porter Jr., Kent).

Steelers to split Week 2 preseason snaps between Will Howard and Drew Allar vs. Jets

HC Mike McCarthy said Howard and Allar will get the bulk of the work Friday as evaluation for the 53-man roster continues; veterans Rodgers and Rudolph will not play.

Steelers roll past Packers, 28-9, to open preseason

Backup QB play from Will Howard and Skylar Thompson drew praise in the win; the result confirms Pittsburgh's 1-0 preseason record.

Training camp ends early at Saint Vincent after weather cancellation

First-year HC Mike McCarthy's first Latrobe camp closed a day early for weather; first-round pick Max Iheanachor (out since Aug 6) is likely to miss the Week 2 preseason game vs. the Jets.

Acrisure Stadium switches turf to Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass

The field was changed from Kentucky bluegrass, installed in July to let sod root before the season, aimed at avoiding the kind of turf failures seen at this year's Super Bowl site.

Rookie Eli Heidenreich wins Steelers' training camp home run derby

Latest Saint Vincent camp color piece: versatile rookie Eli Heidenreich (RB/WR, Mt. Lebanon/Navy product) added a new highlight to his camp reputation by winning the Steelers' annual home run derby, an event new coach Mike McCarthy embraced as part of camp culture in his first year running Saint Vincent. Eli Heidenreich won the Steelers' annual home run derby, a Saint Vincent training-camp tradition, hitting four home runs in a scoring system that also rewarded near-fence blasts Heidenreich played baseball at Mt. Lebanon (WPIAL title, 2022) before leaving the sport to play football at Navy; this was his first time swinging a bat since senior year of high school Other top hitters in the derby included Ben Skowronek, Patrick Queen and Alex Highsmith Coach Mike McCarthy attended and said the first round ran an hour and 28 minutes, calling it 'a great workout' with food trucks and a strong t

Rookie Eli Heidenreich wins Steelers' training camp home run derby

Elandon Roberts returns to the Steelers and practises at Saint Vincent in his old No. 50

Roberts re-signed with Pittsburgh and was on the practice field Saturday. He played for the Steelers in 2023-24 before a 2025 season in Las Vegas under Patrick Graham, now Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator.

Veterans single out Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black as the defensive line takes shape

DT Sebastian Joseph-Day praised second-year linemen Harmon and Black in Saturday's camp blog entry. Harmon credited new coordinator Patrick Graham's on-field presence.

Linebacker room reshaped by Elandon Roberts's return

Young interior defensive line drawing veteran praise ahead of cuts

Quarterback depth chart behind Rodgers still settling

Steelers rout Packers 28-9 as rookie draft class carries preseason opener

Three of Pittsburgh's four touchdowns were scored by rookies. Jamin Davis led all players with eight tackles, two sacks and three QB hits. Green Bay was held to minus-14 yards on its final three possessions.

Kaleb Johnson's roster spot in jeopardy after slipping to No. 5 on the RB depth chart

The 2025 third-round pick did not enter until nearly 11 minutes into the third quarter and finished with two carries for three yards. Rookie Eli Heidenreich got nine fourth-quarter carries.

Starting tackles Fautanu and Cook struggle as injured first-rounder Iheanachor watches

Troy Fautanu was flagged twice on one first-quarter drive; Dylan Cook was beaten for a sack. Special teams were penalized six times for 76 yards.

A rookie class carrying the preseason opener

Kaleb Johnson's slide down the depth chart