Pittsburgh Steelers News & Updates & Schedule

Final Score

Steelers 27
Bills 28

Roster moves continue

The Steelers signed defensive back Brandon Hill.

Hill was originally drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, spending time on their practice squad.

Hill also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears.

Hill played college football at the University of Pittsburgh where he appeared in 40 games, with 27 starts. He recorded 172 tackles, including 91 solo stops, three and a half tackles for a loss, 12 passes defensed and three interceptions. He also had three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His senior season he was Pitt's second-leading tackler with 67 tackles.

Hill earned All-ACC honorable mention honors in 2022, second team All-ACC honors in 2021 and was a 2021 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.

In a related move, the team released receiver Joaquin Davis.

Back on the road for the first time

Being the coach of an NFL team requires a lot of in-depth acumen. How do you structure practice? Do you want to be a gap scheme or inside zone team? What's the best way to defend a 3-by-1 stack to the weak side?

But sometimes, it's as simple as what airport to go to.

Wednesday will be the first "launch day," as Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy calls it. And it precedes the team's first road trip of his tenure, as they head to Buffalo to face the Bills in their preseason finale.

"It's important to make sure you're at the right airport," McCarthy joked before Tuesday's practice. "But we'll just go through all the little details of that. First time traveling, and actually, the process here is really clean. I've had a chance to visit the terminal and see how we leave, what's expected once we arrive in the opponent city and all that."

What's expected is to win, particularly once the regular season arrives. The Steelers will simulate their routine as best they can with a 91-man roster, a Thursday night kickoff and a "herky jerky" portion of the preseason, as McCarthy put it.

But it's all part of what comes along with a transition to a new staff. The Steelers have learned how McCarthy runs OTAs, minicamp, training camp and practice schedules. Now they're spending some time in team meetings discussing the itinerary for away games, and they'll see the NFL's newest venue, Highmark Stadium playing host to its second game.

"That'll be a little weird," said Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts, who played at the old stadium eight times between his stints in New England, Miami and Pittsburgh. "I've been there so much. I'm still used to driving in on those back roads through the community."

Game-day commute aside, it's also critical to set the stage for what comes before and after the matchup with the Bills. The Steelers and Bills will be the first teams to wrap up their preseason slate, which means beginning the unfortunate reality of reducing the roster by 6 p.m. Sunday.

McCarthy knows that's a grueling part of the job. But it is part of the job. And it's unavoidable.

"I know for me, I'm not looking forward to those next four days," McCarthy said. "I've been here with these men since April. I see the time that they put in. I'm not just talking about the CBA-regulated time. I'm talking about the weekends, the early mornings."

McCarthy is typically in the office at those times himself, so he sees who's putting in the extra work. Yes, they're preparing for the next meeting, or the next practice, but above all else, they're ultimately preparing for those opportunities when the lights are on.

Thursday will be the last for some. McCarthy doesn't want to short-change anyone, as much as he has to balance the reps and snaps, because there are only so many to go around.

"You want to see everybody get an opportunity," McCarthy said. "I think it's important for me to accomplish that here in Buffalo, and we'll see how that sorts out. … This is a very stressful, difficult string of days here for these men."

Roberts was a sixth-round pick once upon a time, and even this year, as a late addition to the roster, he's taking nothing for granted. He would prefer to play again after logging 32 snaps off the bench last week against the Jets.

But he has been in these shoes before. He'll give his wisdom to any younger player who asks for advice about being on the roster bubble.

"I always just tell them to go out there and take it one play at a time," Roberts said. "Me, myself, I hope to be playing because I still need to get some things ironed out. And I know a lot of people would say this is naive, but I never went into a season feeling like …"

Roberts imitated an exaggerated sigh of relief, the one he has never allowed himself to take. Instead, he just waits for a phone call that doesn't come, then shows up to work the next day.

He'd rather feel on the edge than comfortable. And the Steelers plan to bring an edge to Buffalo for their final dress rehearsal before Week 1.

Steelers make roster moves

The Steelers signed cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau and running back Alex Tecza.

In addition, cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been cleared to return to practice on Monday (Aug. 24) and was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform List.

The team also placed defensive back Israel Mukuamu on the Reserve/Injured List.

Guilbeau originally signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.

Guilbeau played college football at Texas where he appeared in 44 games, with 27 starts. He finished with 124 tackles, 69 of them solo stops, and eight tackles for a loss. He added 11 passes defensed, one interception and a sack.

He played in 12 games in 2025, starting 10, and finished the season with 40 tackles, 22 of them solo stops, four passes defensed, an interception and a sack.

Tecza played college football at the Naval Academy, where he earned second-team all-conference honors his senior year. He was also named first-team all-East as a junior and senior.

During his time at the Naval Academy, he started 33 games and rushed for 2,236 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also had 41 receptions for 451 yards and three touchdowns.

In his senior season he rushed for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding 13 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Tecza, who is from Mt. Lebanon, Pa., just outside of Pittsburgh, was with the team on a tryout basis during the team's rookie minicamp in the spring.

The team had previously released kicker Laith Marjan, giving them an available roster spot.

Reinforcements on the way

Veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey and rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor are back in practice, Steelers coach Mike McCarthy announced Monday morning, as the team looks to max out a couple of days in pads before the preseason finale in Buffalo.

McCarthy acknowledged that Ramsey has been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, where the team's versatile three-time first-team All-Pro cornerback had been since reporting to training camp. That's a significant step forward for Ramsey, who figures to be the ultimate chess piece in the secondary, but he has a lengthy NFL resumé McCarthy and his staff are familiar with.

That's not the case with Iheanachor, this year's first-round pick out of Arizona State. Iheanachor had been making strides in training camp before an injury Aug. 6, and McCarthy openly expressed his excitement to see if that can be transferred from Saint Vincent College to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

"Really want to see him go today. I know he's anxious to go," McCarthy said. "I'll be watching him a lot in the individual [drills]. We've got two padded practices that will be a really good indication of how much he'll be able to play Thursday."

In fact, McCarthy made it clear the matchup with the Bills will be a showcase for any relatively inexperienced Steelers who are healthy — plus those trying to compete for depth spots on the 53-man roster. Players with less of a track record at the NFL level simply aren't as easy to assess until they're placed in more situations.

That could be practice versus a game. That could be home versus away. Thursday will be the Steelers' first road trip under McCarthy, too, outside of the commute to and from Latrobe.

"The goal, especially the younger half of the roster, is to give all these guys a chance to play, perform, to show what they have so we can get a clean evaluation on them," McCarthy said. "Not everybody makes the team today, but they can make it tomorrow. … It's all about being exposed. Some players play better in certain places than others. That's just the way this league has always worked."

And even then, McCarthy doesn't just want to focus on those who have the inside track to make the roster this weekend. Sunday is cut-down day throughout the league, which is an unfortunate reality for front offices, coaches and roster hopefuls all around.

But McCarthy's mantra is "you can't give me enough players." He recalls that it took 77 players in 2011 when his Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl. Last year, the Seattle Seahawks used 71 players in the regular season and a postseason-high 54 through the playoffs en route to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

"The depth of your football team is something that really comes out of this third game," McCarthy said. "That's been my personal experience, and I think that will probably hold true when we get to Friday. I don't think there's been a year where there aren't times a guy steps up in that last game and you go, 'Whoa.' And it makes those decisions after the game even harder."

In that sense, "harder" might not necessarily mean bumping two or three players off the initial roster for two or three who made a late charge. It could just be that those Week 3 preseason standouts improved their stock for the practice squad, or even to be the first call when an injury happens and a signing needs to be made.

Yes, there will be a finite number of slots once this phase is over. But building a team is really a never-ending process for McCarthy and his fellow decision-makers.

"That's the way I look at it. I value the time we have with these players. Their time here in the spring is very important to me. I put a lot of weight into that. I look at this like it's a long-term relationship. These guys might not play for us this year, but you never know [what happens] with the offseason. You have to look at that, because you have to develop your younger players. This thing is about draft and development."

That mentality is why McCarthy never wants himself or his assistant coaches to overlook the so-called last guy in the room, or the youngest player in a position group who may need more seasoning. It's good for the overall competition in the unit, it's good for the grizzled starters to make those connections, and of course it's good for the players themselves — many of whom are working diligently this week for pivotal moments Thursday night.

VIDEO
https://www.steelers.com/news/reinforcements-on-the-way

HIGHLIGHTS: Preseason Week 2 vs Jets

Watch the highlights from the Steelers Preseason Week 2 matchup with New York Jets

VIDEO
https://www.steelers.com/video/highlights-preseason-week-2-vs-jets

WATCH: Allar on the loss to the Jets

Drew Allar spoke with the media following the Steelers' 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets

VIDEO
https://www.steelers.com/video/watch-allar-on-the-loss-to-the-jets

Labriola on the loss to the Jets

The individual player statistics were grim, and the numbers on the scoreboard were ugly. A lot of the feel-good from the preseason opener eight days earlier vanished like a puff of smoke in a windstorm. Heroes to zeroes from one outing to the next.

Such is life during an NFL preseason, and Friday night against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium was the first time these Steelers experienced this as a group of players and coaches. The scores of preseason games really don't matter at all, with the possible exception of a shutout, and the Jets held the Steelers scoreless, 17-0. It was the first time since the second game of the 2016 preseason that they were skunked. That had to sting just a little.

But what's really going on right now is paring the 90 into a 53-man roster that will serve as the tip of the spear of 68 total players who will represent the Steelers during the upcoming regular season set to begin for them on Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. Atlanta on this same patch of grass.

Friday night against the Jets was anticipated because it was going to present the team's two young quarterbacks – second-year pro Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar – in a classic show-us-what-you-got challenge. Coach Mike McCarthy had announced that Howard would start the game, with Allar then taking over in the second half. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph would not play.

That turned out to be just as disappointing as everything else over the next 2-and-a-half hours that ended up spoiling what otherwise would've been a pleasant way to spend a Friday night in late August.

Let's start with Howard, since he was the starting quarterback. And to be fair Howard would start with a disadvantage, because by the time he took the field with the offense the Jets had a 7-0 lead.

Geno Smith quarterbacked the Jets right down the field after the opening kickoff, 69 yards in 10 plays in 5:56 of game time. He completed 7-of-7 for 65 yards and a 1 touchdown, and he converted 2-of-2 third downs – a 10-yard pass to TE Mason Taylor on a third-and-9, and a 10-yard pass to WR Garrett Wilson on a third-and-6. He made the plays NFL starting quarterbacks are required to make.

The Steelers offense was unable to match the first time it got the ball. There was little push on two running plays by Jaylen Warren, which set up a third-and-9, and then Howard was high with a throw down the middle of the field to WR Roman Wilson. Punt, the first of 6 on the night by Cameron Johnston.

Football is the ultimate team sport, and the Steelers then went through a series of failures as a team. The next offensive series was ruined by a third-down sack when Edge David Bailey, the second overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, got away from Broderick Jones. Two other possessions before the first half ended were sabotaged by interceptions, and while not all interceptions belong to the quarterback, that's for McCarthy to judge about those two. Today, there is no choice but to assign them to Howard.

The first of those interceptions ended a decent stretch of play by Howard. The Steelers' third possession began at their 30-yard line with 7 seconds left in the first quarter. Warren carried twice for 1 first down, and then when his third carry of the drive gained 5, Howard moved the sticks with a 5-yard completion to Darnell Washington. Two plays later it was third-and-8, but Howard delivered a rope over the middle to Ben Skowronek for 16 and the first down.

Back to the run, and Rico Dowdle carried twice for 11, caught a pass for 2 and ran for another 4 to set up a third-and-4 from the Jets 14-yard line. But when Howard went over the middle again, this time for Wilson, safety Andre Cisco came across and made the interception, which he returned 23 yards to the 31-yard line.

After that opening drive, the Jets offense wouldn't have much success vs. the Steelers defense for the remainder of the first half. But the Pittsburgh offense couldn't take advantage.

The first time the Steelers drove 56 yards in 12 plays before the interception, and then it was 47 yards in 10 plays on the second possession of the half to end with another turnover instead of points. Is there any consolation to have executed decently over a representative period of time to possess the ball that long and gain 103 yards, or is that even worse because statistics show that self-inflicted wounds are catastrophic in the NFL.

Allar took over for the 7 possessions in the second half, and the Steelers went three-and-out 3 times, turned it over on downs twice, and missed a field goal. For the whole game, the Steelers possessed the ball for 31 minutes and ran 68 offensive plays, but they gained a scant 242 yards. They got into the red zone twice – turned it over once and missed a field goal the second time.

This game lacked all of the things McCarthy had highlighted in the preseason-opening 28-9 win over Green Bay.

He went from saying this on Aug. 13: "I'm quick to say, especially when it gets around to playing the game, I really don't give a hoot what they do. It's about how we're going to play from an offensive standpoint. If you do it the right way, that beats good defense. Same on defense. If you're doing it the right way in the area of winning the pre-snap, playing with the right fundamentals, finishing as a unit, you'll be successful. Today was our starting point. We have a lot of work to do. I think we all recognize that, but this was a good start for us" …

To saying this in the same setting on Aug. 21: "I wish we'd have been more productive tonight, was really my message to the team. Just the reality of taking a step as a football team, the scoreboard didn't reflect that but we got great teaching film … We'll go through that and clean it up. The players will be off Sunday. Monday and Tuesday will be two of our last training camp practices. We'll go really heavy and competitive there on the offense and the defense. Wish we'd have been more productive today. We'll definitely have an opportunity to grow."

Just one more opportunity, and even though the third preseason game has its own identity in terms of personnel usage, McCarthy might still want more opportunity to evaluate and make the final determinations about the all-important task of the trimming of these 90 to the chosen 53.

Such is life during an NFL preseason.