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Pregame Blog: Steelers vs. Texans

Ready to roll: After three weeks of training camp, and an offseason of preparation, rookies will get their first real taste of the NFL tonight when the Steelers host the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in the preseason opener.

For the Steelers offensive linemen, three of whom were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft including first-round pick Troy Fautanu, second-round pick Zach Frazier and fourth-round pick Mason McCormick, the game can't come soon enough.

"I can't wait for it," said Frazier, the center from West Virginia. "Just excited to hit someone new. The fun part is playing football, so just can't wait to do that."

While the rookies have donned their uniforms for photoshoots, this time, putting that jersey on is going to be a completely different feeling.

"It's definitely going to be special, especially playing at home, at Acrisure Stadium," said Frazier. "It's going to be special. It's going to be a cool experience. I can't wait."

He isn't the only one who feels that way.

"It'll be pretty cool," said McCormick, the guard from South Dakota State. "My first time really wearing a Steelers jersey and getting out there on that field.

"I just want to be a good representative of this organization and play the right way."

The last few weeks of camp have prepared both Frazier and McCormick for what to expect on Friday night, with the intensity high and the hitting getting them ready for the real thing.

"Every day gets a little bit easier for me, I get a little bit more comfortable, learn more and more," said Frazier. "I just get better every day. It's definitely more intense than OTAs. I'm definitely learning more than OTAs, but it's great."

McCormick has stepped up in camp protecting his quarterback, even if it means getting a little scrappy at times. But it's what he does.

"They want us to be physical and play with high effort," said McCormick. "We've got a lot of guys that do that at a high level. It's been cool to learn and absorb information from them and see how they work.

"I take pride in protecting the quarterback. That is what I am going to do."

A look at player arrivals before the Steelers' Week 1 preseason game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium

Honoring America: Jarah Casciani, 16-year-old Pine Richland High School student, will sing the National Anthem.

Saluting a hero: The U.S. Steel Salute to Heroes recipient is First Sergeant Calvin T. Marshall, United States Army and Air Force. First Sgt. Marshall has served our nation and community in multiple capacities. He entered the United States Army spending several years there. He went on to become a corrections officer in the Federal Correctional Institute before joining the Air Force. Over his 20 plus year career, he was deployed multiple times and served in support of Desert Storm & Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He continues to council and support enlisted forces and veterans. In the community, he has volunteered for Operation Homefront for over 15 years and the Brightside Project. He is also a member of the VFW, the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Enter early: Acrisure Stadium Management and the Pittsburgh Steelers are reminding fans to enter the stadium early to ensure they will not miss kickoff.

Fireworks, which will be presented by Zambelli Fireworks, will be set off an hour prior to kickoff and 30 minutes prior to kickoff to serve as reminders for fans to enter Acrisure Stadium so they will not miss all of the pregame activities, including Steelers introductions and kickoff.

Fans are also being reminded of the mobile ticketing process in place at Acrisure Stadium. Prior to coming to Acrisure Stadium, fans should:

• Save their mobile tickets to the digital wallet on their smartphone.

• Make sure their phones are fully charged.

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Getting the juices flowing: Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson eats, breathes and sleeps football, and there is no doubt his adrenaline is pumping as the team prepares for tonight's preseason opener against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium.

"I'm super excited," said Wilson. "You don't get tired of it, but going against the same people, it kind of gets repetitive. It's going to bring a different juice Friday.

"It's my first preseason game. It's going to be really surreal."

It will all start with walking into the Steelers locker room and putting on the uniform.

"It's going to be unbelievable," said Wilson, the linebacker who played at North Carolina State. "All the work that been put in to get to this moment, just super excited and honestly just can't wait."

While there is nothing that can prepare you for NFL game action than playing in a game itself, the last few weeks of training camp have Wilson as ready to go as you can be. He is a player who has gained a lot of praise from teammates and coaches for his preparation and now he is ready to put it all to work.

"I've got to credit all the coaches from Coach Mike Tomlin to my linebackers coach, Coach (Aaron) Curry. They are preparing me and putting trust in me to out there and get as many reps I have.

"I'm as confident as I am going into Friday."

Two players who have been in Wilson's corner are fellow inside linebackers Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts. Having their support is something that drives Wilson.

"I'm going to work hard, keep my head down, and try not to cause problems. Just compete at the highest level," said Wilson. "Getting praise and help from guys like PQ (Queen) and E-Rob (Roberts), it means the world to me. Guys that I look up to in the position room. I can't thank them enough for everything they've done."

One area where he has been praised is for his consistency. He comes to work every day with the same attitude, same approach, same intensity, and it's working.

"That's how I live my life," said Wilson. "One day I'm not going to be up. I'm not going to be down. I'm just going to be consistent.

"That's what I've learned throughout my journey in sports, that you can't really be a guy on a rollercoaster every day. You just have to come in with the same mentality and continue to work and compete and understand at this level you're competing for a job.

"Every single day has to be your best and you have to treat it like that."

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Celebrating Youth Football: The Steelers will celebrate youth football at tonight's game with a variety of activities.

The NFL celebrates youth and high school football year-round. Through camps, activities, NFL FLAG and tackle leagues, the Play Football initiative provides a fun and engaging experience for players of all ages and skill levels, equipping young people with key life skills that are building blocks to success on and off the field.

NFL PLAY 60 will have an active presence at the game. NFL PLAY 60 is the league's national youth health and wellness campaign that encourages kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. The mission is to empower youth to be the most physically active and healthy.

At halftime, the high school girls flag football teams from WPIAL's North Catholic will compete against Upper St. Clair, as the City League teams Brashear and Westinghouse compete on the field.

Twirl the Towel: The Terrible Towel Twirl will be led by two members of each of the four Girls Flag Football teams who are playing at halftime. They represent Upper St. Clair, Westinghouse, Brashear and North Catholic.

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Season Ticket Holder of the Game

David Lowther
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Season Ticket Holder Since: 2019

David was nominated to be Season Ticket Holder of the Game because:
David described himself as a blue collar yinzer that finally realized his dream of becoming a STH. David has been a fan since he was 10 years old and works at a Children's hospital. Shortly after his career started, David was able to acquire season tickets. David enjoys coming to the games and usually starts his game day with a hoagie from Peppi's while walking down the hill to the game. David enjoys his view from his seats in Section 138. David is a perfect example of an avid Steelers fan.

Favorite current player:
Cameron Heyward

Favorite all-time player
Ben Roethlisberger

Favorite Steelers moment:
Being at the stadium for Ben Roethlisberger's final home game.

First Steelers game:
David's first Steelers game was the Steelers vs Panthers pre-season game in the early 2000s. David says that he would have to get the ticket stub out for the date.

Farthest away game trip:
David's furthest away game trip was in Baltimore on Thanksgiving night back in 2013.

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Kick for a cause: The annual United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania Kick Off event will take place at halftime of tonight's game against the Texans at Acrisure Stadium.

Three kickers from area companies, including representatives from First National Bank, PNC and PPG will compete in the contest.

The winning company will earn the honor of presenting a $10,000 check to the United Way to kick off their campaign. Acrisure will also present a matching contribution of $10,000 to the United Way.

Visit the Official Steelers Pro Shop: Gear up for gameday by visiting the Official Steelers Pro Shop located on Art Rooney Ave at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers Pro Shop offers a variety of on-field sideline gear, jerseys, hats, terrible towels and more direct from the team.

Mobile Ticketing

Ensure your phone is fully charged on gameday. Download your mobile ticket before arriving to Acrisure Stadium. Be sure to access your digital ticket(s) and save to your Apple or Google Wallet before you arrive at Acrisure Stadium.

Cashless on Gameday

For your safety and convenience, we are limiting the number of touchpoints between you and our staff members. Acrisure Stadium is a cashless venue and credit and debit cards are still accepted, as well as Apple and Google Pay.

Clear Bag Policy

To provide a safer environment for the public and significantly expedite fan entry into Acrisure Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to enforce the NFL CLEAR BAG POLICY that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the stadium.

Security Screening

You may walk through new state-of-the-art screening machines at certain gates that do not require the removal of personal items (e.g. keys, cell phones, coats or bags). Simply walk through the system unimpeded.

A look at pregame warmups before the Steelers' Week 1 preseason game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium

Pregame Activities

Art Rooney Avenue: Celebrate with Steelers Nation on Art Rooney Avenue, home to the Steelers Experience, including photo opportunities, the FedEx Air and Ground Zone, prize giveaways, Hall of Honor Museum display, and more.

Test your speed at the new 40 Yard Dash on Art Rooney Ave!

Location: Along the East Side of the stadium

Time: Open 3 hours prior to kickoff.

Stage AE

Stop by the Official Tailgate Zone of the Pittsburgh Steelers, featuring a live band, giant TVs to watch highlights and games, food and drink specials and contests.

Location: Along North Shore Drive

Time: Opens 4 hours prior to kickoff

FedEx Great Hall

Take advantage of photo opps, watch the live pregame show -Steelers Kickoff, and explore the Steelers Pro Shop with access to concessions all in the FedEx Great Hall.

Location: Enter through East side of Stadium

Time: Pregame Show - 30 minutes prior to kickoff

Steel Yard

Prepare for kickoff at our traditional backyard tailgate experience with your favorite lawn games & Anheuser-Busch products in the Bud Light backyard, or enjoy a cocktail from the brand new Stillhouse mobile hub.

The Steel Yard is also home to larger-than-life photo ops, including the 360-photo booth & #HEREWEGO sign.

Location: Outside of Gate A East on the south end of the stadium

Time: Opens 3 hours prior to kickoff

50/50 Raffle: Purchase your 50/50 raffle tickets during gameday to benefit The United Way of Southwestern PA.

Gameday Poster Series: Stop by the Steelers Pro Shop to purchase your Gameday Poster while supplies last! Each poster is uniquely designed to represent each of our home games, with a season-long poster available that encapsulates the season!

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WATCH/STREAM

  • The game broadcast is carried on KDKA-TV (CBS) locally in Pittsburgh & on the Steelers preseason TV affiliate network. Game coverage begins Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET; The BetMGM Steelers Kickoff pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET; The Neighborhood Ford Store Steelers Xtra Point postgame show starts immediately following the game on Pittsburgh CW. Both programs will be archived on the Steelers YouTube channel.
  • Click here to see a list of the Steelers preseason TV network affiliates.
  • Bob Pompeani (play-by-play), Charlie Batch (color analyst), Missi Matthews (sideline reporter) are on the game call; The BetMGM Steelers Kickoff pregame show and The Neighborhood Ford Store Steelers Xtra Point postgame show are hosted by A.J. Ross & Max Starks.
  • The NFL also offers fans a number of ways to watch Steelers preseason football on their digital devices:
  • Fans located in most Steelers preseason affiliate markets can watch Steelers preseason football on Steelers.com (desktop & mobile site). NFL geographical restrictions apply.
  • Not in any of the Steelers preseason TV affiliate markets? NFL+ Premium gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local & primetime Regular Season and Postseason games on your phone or tablet, full & condensed replays of every game, and MORE! Whether you are at the stadium or on-the-go, you will never miss a moment with NFL+. NOTE: NFL+ is only available to users within the United States. For a full description of features, requirements, limitations, and other information, visit NFL+ Support.
  • Don't forget all Steelers postgame press conferences are streamed live on Steelers.com, the Steelers Official Mobile App and the team's Official YouTube Channel.
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LISTEN

  • Steelers Audio Network - Game coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET; Pregame programming begins at 3:00 p.m.; Postgame coverage starts immediately following the game.
  • Rob King (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (color analyst) and Max Starks (sideline reporter) are on the call.
  • Fans in the Pittsburgh area can listen locally on WDVE 102.5 FM & WBGG 970 AM.
  • The Steelers Audio Network will broadcast the game live through our radio affiliates. Click here for a list of our radio affiliates.
  • The game broadcast is also carried on Steelers Nation Radio (SNR). SNR is streamed on Steelers.com and the Official Steelers Mobile App. Fans can listen to pregame and postgame programming from anywhere in the world on these platforms. NFL geographical restrictions apply to the game broadcast stream for desktop, mobile web and mobile app users.
  • SiriusXM subscribers can listen to Steelers game live. Please visit SiriusXM's Steelers broadcast page for channel details.

EN ESPANOL

  • Puedes escuchar la transmisión del partido en español en cualquier parte del mundo en steelers.com/espanol desde tu computadora.
  • Si estas en México y en el área de Pittsburgh ahora puedes escuchar también desde tu dispositivo móvil y desde el App Oficial de Steelers. Simplemente haz Clic en la esquina superior derecha de la pagina principal del App donde dice "Live Audio" y selecciona español.
  • Los Juego de pre-temporada también se transmitirán por Imagen TV 3.4 y Fox Sports 2 en México.
  • Álvaro Martín y Arturo Carlos serán nuestro equipo del Steelers en español este domingo. Martín está en su tercera década de crónica de la NFL y en su sexta temporada como comentarista de Steelers en español. Carlos esta entrando a su sexta temporada como play-by-play de Steelers en Español.

Activa las notificaciones en español del App Oficial de Steelers
Abre la aplicación, haz clic en la esquina inferior derecha en "More," haz clic en "Settings," haz click en la tercera opción "Notifications" y activa el icono en "Español."

IRELAND

Thanks to a partnership between the Steelers and Virgin Media, fans located on the island of Ireland can watch the Steelers-Texans game on free-to-air television on Virgin Media Two. Complete coverage starts at 23:30 p.m., with kickoff at 00:00.

Fans can also listen to the Steelers Audio Network game broadcast on Off The Ball throughout Ireland.

Don't forget to follow the team on its Irish social handles on X, Instagram and TikTok - @SteelersIreland.

DEUTSCHLAND

Zum ersten Mal können Steelers-Fans in Deutschland die Preseason ihres Lieblingsteams auf den digitalen Plattformen der Steelers verfolgen.
Das Spiel der Steelers gegen die Houston Texans wird auf Steelers.com und in der offiziellen Steelers-App KOSTENLOS zu sehen sein. Wenn du das Spiel über die App verfolgen willst, stelle sicher, dass du die Standortdienste aktiviert hast.

Der Kickoff ist in der Nacht von Freitag (09. August) auf Samstag (10. August) um 1 Uhr.

GAME PASS INTERNATIONAL

The NFL, in partnership with DAZN, has officially launched Game Pass International for the 2023 season, an opportunity for fans outside of the United States, Canada and China to catch all of the NFL action this season. Subscribers to Game Pass International will be able to access all preseason, regular season and postseason games live. They will also be able to access replays and condensed games on video on demand.

In addition, subscribers will have access to NFL RedZone and NFL Network, both live and on demand. NFL Films/Media will also provide original content and video via an on-demand library.

Content can be watched on all major devices, and fans can sign up today here: NFL GamePass International

The content is available for fans outside of the United States, Canada, China and a handful of Sanctioned Territories.

CONNECT

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