As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for their only home preseason game of 2025 against the Buccaneers, head coach Mike Tomlin is sticking to a familiar strategy: give key starters, including QB Aaron Rodgers, a rest. Instead, the team leaned into joint practice to sharpen skills and evaluate depth, as Tomlin emphasized consistency with their Week 1 approach.
On the field, the offense looked crisp early but lost momentum as practice wore on—a sign that cohesion still needs work ahead of regular-season play. Tight end Pat Freiermuth called the session “solid,” praising the competitive edge and intensity but acknowledging room for improvement, especially in the two-minute drill.
From the sidelines, quarterback Rodgers offered valuable leadership and posed challenges to his receiving corps—most notably DK Metcalf—during drills and informal coaching moments.
Tomlin sees these scrimmages as equally valuable as games themselves, citing exposure to unfamiliar defenses and new formations that sharpen preparation.
While fans await real-game action, the Steelers are leveraging practice—tightening technique, improving chemistry, and giving reserves meaningful reps—to build the foundation they’ll need when the regular season kicks off.
—
Photo Credit: dean bertoncelj / Shutterstock.com