The Steelers are gearing up for their second preseason matchup of 2025, as Pittsburgh will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 16 for another exciting dose of Steel City football.
When the action kicks off this Saturday at 7:00 PM EST, here are four must-watch Steelers for fans to keep their eyes on — from last week’s standout performers to rookies looking for a bounce back in preseason Week 2.
QB Skylar Thompson
After his terrific performance in the preseason opener, there was arguably no Steeler more befitting of kicking off this list than Thompson. Another strong performance could force the Steelers to evaluate their QB options moving forward — potentially stashing rookie QB Will Howard on IR for 2025 to open up a spot for Thompson.
RB Kaleb Johnson
Despite embarrassing Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter last week, Johnson’s performance was less than ideal in the preseason opener — but who could blame the rookie third-rounder in what was his first NFL showing? Facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should give Steelers fans more to analyze moving forward, and Johnson is no doubt looking to silence the doubters this Saturday.
NT Yahya Black
Despite playing only 10 snaps against the Jaguars last week, Black was arguably the biggest Steelers standout on defense. Whether it was against the pass or the run, Black was a man on a mission in the opposing backfield and looks to turn in a similar performance against the Buccaneers.
WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Williams, who’s buried on the unofficial depth chart, was clearly Thompson’s favorite pass catcher from last Saturday’s contest. He still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster this season, but a strong outing versus the Buccaneers could make his case undeniable.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers to watch ahead of preseason Week 2 matchup vs. Buccaneers
