Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart
- AFC North
- Stadium
- Heinz Field
- Head Coach
- Mike Tomlin
- Offensive Coordinator
- Matt Canada
- Defensive Coordinator
- Keith Butler
- Special Teams Coach
- Danny Smith
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (groin), who was knocked out of the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders with a groin injury, has a chance to play in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a source. Watt isn't guaranteed to be back this week, but this is a sign that he didn't suffer a serious injury in the loss Sunday. Melvin Ingram would see more snaps in Week 3 if Watt is unable to make it back onto the field. The 26-year-old is one of the best all-around defensive players in the league, so Pittsburgh's defense would be in really bad shape if he was lost for an extended period of time. After two weeks of the 2021 season, the Steelers defense ranks 11th overall in the NFL and has five sacks and a turnover. If they're closer to full strength, their defense will be in the starting picture this weekend against Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson appeared to sustain a potentially crushing injury at the conclusion of the team's Week 2 loss to Las Vegas on the final play of the game. But per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Johnson avoided a long-term injury and his status for the team's Week 3 matchup against Cincinnati is up in the air. Johnson had a dominant performance against the Raiders, snagging nine catches for 105 yards; in each of the first two weeks, he has seen double-digit targets. Should Johnson be unavailable in the short-term, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool are the two likeliest beneficiaries, while James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud figure to see their snap count rise, as well. Check back for updates on Johnson's status as they become available.
When asked about certain formations in the offense in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said: "You'll have to ask coach Canada that. That's what he's calling, what we're going with. We got some really good football players that you want to get on the football field. So, if you don't have them out there, they're sitting on the bench doing nothing." Roethlisberger also hinted that the team no longer has a no-huddle offense that allows him the liberty to change plays. Big Ben went 27-for-40 for 295 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the loss, and he hasn't looked good at all through two weeks behind another unspectacular offensive line. Pittsburgh has a nice Week 3 matchup against the Bengals, but they could also be without top wideout Diontae Johnson, who was injured on the final play in Week 2.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense struggled in a 26-17 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. Pittsburgh allowed the Raiders to roll up 425 yards of offense in the loss while picking up two sacks and failing to force a turnover. They also lost star pass rusher T.J. Watt to a groin injury in the first half. The Steelers will look to regroup ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell hit a 56-yard field goal in a 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 while adding two extra points in the contest. The veteran kicker has been on the money thus far for the Steelers through two games, hitting all four of his field goals and going 4-for-4 in extra points. The Pittsburgh offense isn't showing signs of being very explosive, but Boswell should still get enough work to consider as a kicker worth using in fantasy in plus matchups. He will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.