The Steelers finished the preseason 3-0 with a 19-9 win over Detroit yesterday, but coach Mike Tomlin has a lot to think about before the season opens September 11th at defending AFC champion Cincinnati.
Mitch Trubisky was 15-of-19 passing for 160 yards with a touchdown and Kenny Pickett completed 10 of 14 passes for 90 yards as their quarterback competition ended, apparently with Trubisky winning the starting job in Week One.
The Steelers lost linebacker TJ Watt to a knee injury and wide receiver Diontae Johnson to a shoulder injury in the game, and safety Damontae Kazee left the game with an arm injury.
Tomlin appeared unconcerned with Watt and Johnson’s injuries, but was less sure about Kazee’s.
Running back Najee Harris played for the first time in the preseason and revealed afterward that the injury he suffered on the first day of training camp was a Lisfranc injury, which is much more serious than the reported injury from getting stepped on. Harris said the normal recovery time is four to six weeks and he is nearing the end of that. He ran the ball four times for 10 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards.
Tomlin said there were a lot of positives, including finishing the preseason undefeated, but he saw a lot that needed more work before the season starts.
Tomlin also said he is not ready to announce his starting quarterback yet, although he seems to have made up his mind.
Wide receiver Steven Sims caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky and Chris Boswell kicked four field goals for the Steelers, one of them a 54-yarder, but he also had one field goal attempt blocked. Cam Sutton intercepted a pass and returned it to the Lions’ 19, resulting in one of Boswell’s field goals.
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