Looking for a 'W': Coach Mike Tomlin named Russell Wilson the starter for Saturday's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, but Justin Fields plans on giving it everything he has when he gets his shot.

And he has a goal in mind.

"First and foremost, a win," said Fields. "On offense, take care of the ball, play clean and put points up on the board.

"The goal is to win. That's what we're here to do. We're not here to practice well in practice, and then not win the games. We're just focused on winning. There is never a great energy coming in after a loss, whether it's preseason or not, so that is what we want to do, win."

The Steelers are 0-2 on the preseason, so getting a win before the regular season starts, topped with the starting offense putting points on the board, can create momentum.

"I think it's definitely important, that momentum going into the season," said Fields. "Everybody in the locker room here knows that. So, that's what we're focused on doing."

Fields isn't certain how much playing time he will see on Saturday, or if he will get snaps with the first team offense. And he is fine not knowing.

"I'm not really going into any game expecting (a set amount of snaps)," said Fields. "I don't know what's going to happen. But I kind of like it that way. I don't like saying I'm going to get this amount of drives. I kind of felt that I was going to stay in last game. You never know how the game might play out."

Regardless of how much playing time he sees, if he gets snaps with the first team or not, Fields knows he has shown the coaches a lot through training camp and the preseason.

"I think I've shown what I can do," said Fields. "The time that I did have with the ones practicing in training camp, I think that went well. I think I grew a lot each and every day. But at the end of the day, it's not up to me.

"I'm just going to come in here each and every day the same person, being a leader for this team and working my butt off."

Singing Beanie's praises: A lot of rookies have stood out for the Steelers this preseason, but one who has made a name for himself, without a lot of fanfare coming in, is defensive back Beanie Bishop.

Bishop, who played at West Virginia, signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.

Listed at 5-9, he is the smallest in the Steelers secondary. But don't let his height or his lack of being drafted fool you.
He is a playmaker.

"Beanie came in and he's been a great guy just gelling with the team," said cornerback Joey Porter Jr. "He's willing to learn. He wants to get out there. He wants to do good. So, we are all rooting for him to go out there and just keep performing and make some splash plays."

Bishop missed the Bills game dealing with an injury, but Coach Mike Tomlin mentioned this being a big week for him as the team prepares to close out the preseason.

"It's a big week for Beanie obviously, missing the last performance, and so we'll just keep working," said Tomlin.
And work is something Bishop isn't afraid of.

"I've grown close to Beanie Bishop specifically," said safety Miles Killebrew. "I'm really excited to see his progression.
"He's a quick learner. And he's fast. He's decisive on the field. His coverage is good. I just personally like his overall good attitude. His demeanor on and off the field is refreshing.

"He's just one of those guys that you really want to root for."

Bishop has said multiple times that he has a chip on his shoulder, coming in undrafted, people questioning his size. But he uses that to his advantage.

"It's just another a bit of motivation," said cornerback Joey Porter Jr. "It's another reason why to keep going and just to prove yourself again. You always want to prove yourself to the coaches and teammates, prove that you're a ballplayer. So that's all he's really trying to do."

Bishop has been getting a lot of work in the nickel defense in practice and in the first preseason game, listed on the early depth chart as the starting nickel back. Only time will tell how it all plays out.

"He is just a well-rounded guy. I really like him," said Killebrew. "I can't say enough positive things about him."
Killebrew then laughed, admitting he is saying it all behind his back to keep him grounded.

"I don't know if I would say all this to his face," laughed Killebrew "You gotta keep him a little humble as a rookie. But behind his back, I'll sing his praises. He's been nothing but a pleasure to work with."

Let it fly: There is a lot on the line on Saturday for some Steelers players who are vying for a spot on the 53-man roster.

And while it's likely to weight heavily on their minds, one of the best pieces of advice veteran players will share is to not think too much about it.

"Definitely don't think too much about it," said Donte Jackson, the sixth-year defensive back who was acquired via a trade with the Carolina Panthers this offseason. "Just go out there and take the opportunity as it presents itself.

"I like to tell the guys to not make too much out of it. Don't think this is going to make or break me. Just go out there and just let it fly. There are 31 other teams watching, so you don't want to be in the game or getting that final opportunity, and you are only thinking that I've got to do this, I've got to do that. Just go let it fly. Most of the time when guys do that, there's opportunities after the final preseason game.

"That's what I would give as far as advice. Go out there, have fun, let it fly. Don't take it for granted. Don't take the week for granted. Don't take any bit of the process for granted. Just go out there Saturday and let it fly."

Jackson has already seen some newcomers let it fly, impressed with the way they have handled coming into the NFL, the effort they have given and the results that have shown.

Among those he said have opened his eyes are a pair of linebackers, third-round draft pick Payton Wilson, as well as undrafted free agent Jacoby Windmon.

"Payton has been flying around," said Jackson. "He's been a menace when his name is called on defense, and when his name is called on special teams. Jacoby Windmon, he's a guy who's been flying around making plays. Doing what the coaches ask from him.

"I could go all day. I'm very observant. When I'm in this space, I'm very observant of what guys are taking in every day. It hits a lot of guys different. A lot of guys come from being the main guy on their college team to fighting to get on the team. So, you just always want to see how guys are taking that role and how guys are attacking it.

"We have a lot of guys on this roster right now that have been attacking the process, have been attacking their roles and making the most out of it. I'm excited to see these guys, like I have been every week. I'm excited to see him in his last game and go out there and just make a name for themselves."

Some good advice: The final preseason game means one thing for young players fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Opportunity.

And when opportunity knocks, there is one thing veterans on the Steelers roster know.

You have to answer that knock.

At the same time, you have to be smart about it. And that's the advice veteran players are willing to dish out.

"I think a lot of times guys make the mistake of trying to do something that's outside of their scope, reaching beyond their means," said safety Miles Killebrew. "I would encourage all of them to rest on their training. We've been training for a long time, months going back to the spring, and we all know what needs to be done.

"I think it's just time to go out there, relax, take a deep breath. Rely on your training and have some fun. Just fly around, be fast and make decisions quickly."

Killebrew is looking forward to seeing how things play out on Saturday in Detroit when it comes to the young players, with a close eye on several.

"I am really excited about all of our guys," said Killebrew. "All of our young guys in particular. I've grown close to Beanie Bishop specifically. I'm really excited to see his progression.

"And I'm keeping an eye on the gunner spots in this game. I really want to see what guys separate themselves as being contenders to step up and be a competitor for those gunner positions on our on our unit.

"We lost (Miles) Boykin. We lost James Pierre. It left space for guys to step up at gunner and assume that challenge. I think guys have been doing that and I continue to enjoy seeing that process."

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Wednesday, August 21

Communication is the key: For linebacker Patrick Queen, one of the main things he wants to see the defense work on this week against the Detroit Lions is communication.

Plain and simple, he wants to make sure it's all locked down before the Steelers open the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8.

"Communication. I think as long as we all talk, we're all on the same page," said Queen. "Everybody is communicating at a high level. Nobody is holding secrets. If we see something, tell somebody. I think that's the biggest point for us, just getting better at that.

"We're going to go out there, run the same stuff we've been running. Just play football and go out there, be dominant, be physical. Communicate. And just try to take care of business."

Queen likes the progress he has seen from the defense, starting with OTAs to the final preseason game he has seen growth from a unit that has a lot of new pieces.

"It's been great," said Queen. "Still need to get better, but it's been great. Everybody getting a feel for each other, learning new teammates and stuff. It's really a new group, not a huge new group, but new people in new spots.

"The better that we can all get to know each other outside of football, it's going to help us in football."

One player the defense has a pretty good feel for already is rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, the third-round pick from North Carolina State. Wilson has made his presence felt early and has made an impression on veteran teammates.

"(He's made a) great impact," said Queen. "The guy can do everything. He's just an athletic freak. Just the things that he does and how well he communicates.

"He has the want to, the want to be great. It's rare to find it in somebody that young. In the position he's in, for him to be able to come in and dominate, he realizes it and he takes full advantage of it."

Looking to do more: If you listen to players in the Steelers locker room, many of them have been giving rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop his props.

But Bishop is just quietly trying to do his thing as he wants to show he is worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster, especially at the nickel corner spot where he has seen most of his work.

The rookie undrafted free agent has impressed many, and it means a lot to him to hear those words of praise. But he just wants to do his job.

"I'm just a rookie trying to find my way and figure things out," said Bishop. "I look at guys for answers and see how they prepare. There are a lot of vets in our room that made it to their second contracts and things like that. And I played a lot of football. I want to be able to get to that level.

"I ask them lot of questions, try to be around them, look at the process and the way they prepare and things like that. Guys like Minkah (Fitzpatrick), D.J. (Donte Jackson), DeShon (Elliott) and Cam (Sutton), all of those guys. Cam has been a really big help for me, learning the (nickel) position, learning the plays and things like that. Just trying to understand the concepts that I might get and ways teams like to attack."

Bishop missed last week's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, but is back in the mix now.

"I'm feeling great," said Bishop. It's been a day-by-day thing. I'm feeling great now."

Bishop has put a lot on film so far, and is pleased with some of his work, but he knows there is still more to do.

"I know I can show more," said Bishop. "I'm still learning and things like that. It's still a process. But as a competitor, nobody's going to be content with what they done. So, I'm not content.

"I know I still have a lot of plays out there to make. I haven't taken the ball away. I haven't scored any defensive touchdowns or anything like that. So, I'm not satisfied yet."

Wilson making progress: Rookie receiver Roman Wilson hasn't played in the preseason after suffering an ankle injury on July 30 during training camp, but he is making progress and hoping for a return sooner rather than later.

"(It's) good," said Wilson. "It's coming. It's good so far. I'll be back soon. It feels good. I'm pretty confident with it. I'll be good.

"It does (stink) not being able to play in preseason. That was something I was looking forward to. Being able to play as soon as I can, that is a blessing for me. It could have been worse. I could be sitting out for a longer time."

Wilson was progressing well with the offense prior to the injury, comfortable with the things, when the injury occurred on the first day the team was in pads.

"It was going pretty good," said Wilson. "I put a lot of work in after OTAs. I was doing all right in camp. I was doing my thing."

While he hasn't been able to practice, Wilson has taken advantage of the time to get more comfortable in the offense.

"This has been a good opportunity for me," said Wilson. "I knew the playbook before, but this is a good opportunity for me to really take a deep dive and really learn the in and out of the offense and the whole scheme and schematics and things like that.

"It's really just the details, locking up details. When I'm in meetings, obviously I'm not being corrected. So really taking mental notes of what guys are getting corrected on. How are they going to respond, how would I respond, and just breaking down a lot of film."

Wilson said he is able to work on some physical aspects as well, even if he isn't practicing, which is helping him from getting set back too far. But he does know he will have to make up for lost time, something that he feels is normal.

"I feel like I'm always worried about making up lost time," said Wilson. "There's a lot of time in the day, and you can only do so much. I feel like every day I come in here, I've got to make up for something I wasn't able to do yesterday."

Wilson said he is getting a good feel for the offense while he is sidelined, seeing it come together and he is also learning a lot about what coordinator Arthur Smith's offense looks like.

"(He's a) very intense guy," said Wilson. "He has the idea of what his offense looks like and he wants it to look that way, but he also allows the players to put their own spin on things and be free in a way."

A man with a plan: DeMarvin Leal went into the 2024 offseason with a plan.

And with the season right around the corner, a big part of the plan has been executed.

"I am definitely feeling more comfortable for sure," said Leal. "It is helping me want to stack more days, be more consistent.

"It's just making a plan and sticking to it. I've got good guys around me, good coaches around me as well. So just stick with those guys and trust the process."

Leal is in the best shape of his Steelers career, dropping weight in the offseason and getting his body ready for what he hopes is the best season of his young career.

"It's changed quite a bit. It definitely has," said Leal. "I would just say that I don't feel as sluggish anymore. I feel good."

It wasn't just his body either. There was more to the plan.

"I would say technique," said Leal. "I put an emphasis on technique. And I got to that this offseason. That's part of my plan. So that's what I set out to do."

The plan, though, is not complete yet.

Leal, who was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, has seen some work at outside linebacker, something he has welcomed with open arms, even though it's much different than how he played along the defensive line at Texas A&M.

"It's a lot different," said Leal. "Basically, at A&M I was a wrecking ball who just goes out and wrecks things. Being an outside backer here, I'm learning all the ins and outs of dropping, learning the formations and what's coming back to me and just everything I need to do."

And he is learning it from some great teachers. Aside from the coaching staff, outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have been great resources.

"They give me all the gems, all the crumbs that I need to just to be successful," said Leal. "I'm going to keep picking those crumbs up and just keep moving.

"It's a blessing to have them helping me. It's always been a blessing just to be here. But to have vets actually trust and believe you and want to help you be successful as well like they are, it means a lot."

Now the key for Leal is to take the final steps to complete his plan.

"I was able to actually make a plan for the offseason and map out how I wanted to do it," said Leal. "This year was just work, work and work. The drive came from experience and wanting to be not just be a guy, wanting to be one of THE guys.

"I still have not completed the plan. It's still a work in progress. And when you trust in that process, every step makes me want to be more consistent and involved with everything that's going on around me and compete with T.J. and Alex and those guys to get to the quarterback."

Wanting to be back: First-round draft pick Troy Fautanu is looking forward to getting back on the field, and when asked if he expects to play in the season-opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 8, his answer was simple.

"Yeah, I think I will," said Fautanu. "I mean whatever role they have me playing, regardless, if I'm playing or not, I'm just making sure that I'm ready to go. So, we'll see.

"I'm just focused on whatever I've got this week. We're slowly progressing, but slow progression is still progression to me. For me it's just doing whatever the trainers told me to do and showing up on time and make sure I do it 110 percent."

Suffering the injury in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans has been frustrating for Fautanu, but it's something he has been through before and knows how to handle.

"It's tough. I kind of have been through this with college," said Fautanu. "I graduated high school early, went and broke my foot three months into it. So, I'm kind of just coming into it now, just knowing the mindset I've got to have. It's just making sure that I take it day by day and making sure that I'm not falling off in terms of the playbook, whatever installs we have going in.

"Making sure I'm ready for whatever opportunity comes to me when I come back."

Fautanu would welcome the opportunity to have more playing time before the season-opener, but with that not being the case, he has to take it for what it is.

"There's nothing else I can do but approach the challenges head up," said Fautanu. "I can't hope that I have more time in the preseason. Just making sure that I prepare myself mentally more than anything, because that's kind of what I felt held me back."

Fautanu said in both his first practice during the team's OTAs in the spring, and early in the Texans game, he overthought things, which led to him not being pleased with his performance.

"I think my biggest enemy, personally speaking, is just this thing right here," said Fautanu, pointing to his head. "It's overthinking too much. Not going out there letting my ability take over. For me right now is just making sure that I'm locked in in terms of the playbook, so that come game time I'm not thinking about anything, just making sure that I do my job to the best of my ability.

"So just play faster, stop thinking so much. I tend to do that a lot, but, hopefully, going into game one that I prepare myself."

Bounce-back mode: Right offensive tackle Broderick Jones admittedly didn't play well in last Saturday's preseason loss to Buffalo, for whatever reason.

"I just feel like it was one of those days for me," Jones acknowledged. "Just trying to bounce back, get out of that hole and just continue to get better."

Jones has been wearing a brace on his right elbow since early in training camp. He's also been switching from the right side to left tackle periodically in practices.

But he isn't citing either development as an excuse for his performance against the Bills.

"It's not the brace," Jones maintained. "Guys may think it is but it's nothing wrong with the brace. It's just me being able to lock in with football and just continuing to grow as a player and trusting my game and just going from there."

Jones cited a lack of physicality, for the offensive line in general and in is game in particular, as one of the things that went wrong against Buffalo. For Jones, that was uncharacteristic but not unprecedented.

"I probably had a couple games here and there," last year that were similar, he said. "But you just try to have that mindset of the next play mentality. Every down in and down out, you're just trying to continue to grow. If you mess up, next play mentality.

"Always having that mindset, I feel like it helps me for sure, definitely. When I was at Georgia I was always stuck in my ways and my head if I got beat or something. I feel like I've grown in that manner, just being here in Pittsburgh, just taking the coaching, just listening to different players, what their routine is on game day, or what helps them or what doesn't help them.

"I feel like I just gotta figure out what works for me and just continue to grow off that and just see where that takes me."

Jones, 23, started 11 games as a rookie last season, after starting 19 of 31 career games played at Georgia.

"I have a lot of confidence in Broderick," offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. "I think what he did last year was one of the more impressive things I've seen in a young guy. Coming in the league very young, didn't play a ton at Georgia and he stepped in, I believe, on a short week and played right tackle on a Thursday night game (against Tennessee), that's pretty damn impressive.

"I love his mindset. He's another guy, he doesn't run away from the fight. That's what you love, guys that want to get out there and get better."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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Tuesday, August 20

Center of attention: When the Steelers drafted Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, there was talk about him eventually taking over as the team's starting center.

It appears that is going to happen sooner rather than later.

The Steelers placed fellow center Nate Herbig on the Reserved/Injured List on Tuesday, leaving Frazier as the apparent next in line.

Coach Mike Tomlin has liked what he has seen so far from the rookie out of West Virginia, living up to the early expectations they had for him.

"I don't know that any of it has been surprising, just the close proximity to Morgantown and the relationships we have there," said Tomlin. "He is as advertised. He is mature beyond his football years. He is highly competitive. He has really good leverage.

"Obviously, there is a lot of growth ahead of him, but he has time to do it. We will just keep working day-to-day."

Frazier will get his final preparation for the role when the Steelers travel to Detroit on Saturday for the preseason finale.

And he is ready to go, a lot of the reason thanks to the help he has had from Herbig along the way.

"I would never wish that on anyone," said Frazier. "I feel really bad for Nate. He's really helped me out a lot. Honestly, in his position, he didn't have to help me out at all. I wouldn't be as far as I am right now without him. I'm really thankful for him. And he's still been around, still helping me out, still giving me pointers and tips, which obviously he doesn't have to do. Just (helping) with a lot of technique stuff. I ask him questions. He critiques everything I do.

"I'm just going to put my head down, work hard and do everything that I can.

"That's always been my goal. That's just my mentality. I always want to be on the field. That's my goal."

Frazier started last week against the Buffalo Bills after Herbig suffered the injury in practice, and through two games he likes some of what he has accomplished, but knows there is a lot more to do.

"I definitely had some good plays and some plays I want back," said Frazier. "I'm always going to be hard (on myself). I'm my biggest critic. I want to strive to be the best I can be."

Frazier was a staple for West Virginia's offensive line, starting 37 consecutive games. That experience has helped him, but he knows the NFL is a different level.

"I've played a lot of football and that helps," said Frazier. "But then again, college isn't the NFL. The reps I've gotten in OTAs, and the reps I have gotten in camp, it's really helped me out a lot. It's obviously a different speed. I would say being an offense lineman in general, the more reps you get, I feel like that's really how you learn."

Keeping the QB clean: After the Steelers loss to the Buffalo Bills in the preseason game on Saturday night, Coach Mike Tomlin addressed a few issues, including protecting the quarterback after the offensive line allowed four sacks.

"I thought we didn't do a good enough job of protecting the quarterback," said Tomlin. "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did, not only in possession downs but just in general.

"I was really up front with the group about it in that regard. That can't be a problem for us. We've got to be better than we were tonight in that area."

The message was heard loud and clear.

Veteran guard James Daniels agreed that it was an issue, saying on Tuesday they have to do a better job protecting the quarterback, and it's something that can be corrected.

"We've got to keep the quarterback cleaner," said Daniels. "The quarterbacks got hit too much over the past two games.

"It's just technique issues. It was just bad technique. So, we'll fix that. It's just technique. That's why it's the preseason. We have to keep working, keep practicing."

Another area Daniels would like to see improvement is on first and second down. The Steelers found themselves in multiple third-and-long situations, including a third-and-10 on the first drive, that they couldn't get out of.

"It we're better on first and second down, it makes third down more manageable," said Daniels. "We've had some long third downs the past two weeks, and statistically those aren't good."

Daniels has no lack of confidence that the offense will fix whatever issues they are having, and he also has no lack of confidence in rookie center Zach Frazier, the Steelers second-round pick from West Virginia.

Frazier was called upon to start against the Bills last week with very little notice due to Nate Herbig's injury, and it might be a role he continues to handle.

"He's been doing a good job," said Daniels. "Being a center and finding out that you're going to start when someone gets hurt in a practice. That's tough. I feel like he's been doing a good job ever since he got here back in May. He's always been hungry to work, so I'm excited to see him develop."

Frazier has had no hesitation taking a leadership role on the line, something Daniels likes to see.

"He's been doing a great job verbally," said Daniels. "Whenever we're out there, he's the leader of the line and he's been commanding us. (Against the Bills) he was telling us what to do. So, I think he's been doing a good job so far."

Steelers make multiple roster moves: The Steelers made multiple roster moves on Tuesday, including placing offensive lineman Nate Herbig on the Reserve/Injured List.

The team also signed defensive lineman Marcus Haynes and linebacker Kyahva Tezino.

Haynes originally signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent part of the season on the Broncos practice squad. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns during training camp.

Haynes played college football at Old Dominion where he appeared in 49 games, starting 21. He recorded 102 tackles, 55 of them solo stops, 22 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks, five passes defensed and four forced fumbles.

Tezino originally signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent time on the Carolina Panthers practice squad as well as time with the San Francisco 49ers. Tezino also played for the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL.

Tezino played college football at San Diego State where he appeared in 48 games, starting 21. He recorded 290 tackles, 15.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. He was also named first team All-Mountain West in 2018 and 2019.

The team also released cornerback Anthony Averett.

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