With Steelerstraining camp just around the corner, we turn our focus to the roster andthe battles ahead of us over the summer. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking a closer look at some of the roster battles that we expect to see unfold over the course of training camp as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the start of the 2026 season.
This year, the Steelers seem to have most of their major battles settled before training camp. Outside of the offensive line, the rest of the starting lineup seems to be in order. There are other contributing roles to sort out, of course, like the third wide receiver. But perhaps more than most recent years, this is more jockeying for roles and depth, and not who is starting.
Position: Inside Linebacker
Up for Grabs: Playing Time
In the Mix: Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison, Cole Holcomb, Carson Bruener
The Steelers need to know by the end of training camp whether Payton Wilson can stay on the field in their base defense. For his first two seasons in the NFL, they have determined that he cannot. If that remains true in Year 3, then that means another inside linebacker will have to play.
Last year, Pittsburgh used Malik Harrison as the “heavy”, but that could change. At that time, the Steelers didn’t know even by the end of training camp what they could ask of Cole Holcomb. A year and a half removed from a major knee injury, even he was still learning to trust it.
Following a season in which he managed 198 defensive snaps and 161 special teams snaps, Holcomb could be firmly in the equation now. We can’t dismiss second-year Carson Bruener, who could be in the running for special teams captain. Between the three of them, the Steelers may have a battle on their hands in training camp for the third inside linebacker role.
That battle is two-fold. Not only do they have to determine their first-off-the-bench guy, they have to determine how often he needs to come off the bench. So first, the Steelers must find out in training camp how many snaps Payton Wilson can play. Then, they determine who would be playing the snaps that he’s not playing.
The one constant is Patrick Queen, who should be on the field for virtually every play. Yet, the Steelers would like to see if Payton Wilson could be that every-down player by next season, which will be one task in training camp. Of course, if they are taking him off the field for 30-plus percent of the snaps this year, that won’t be the greatest sign in that regard. At least it would tell them that they may need to start looking for another linebacker next year.
Recommended for you