With a new coaching staff, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 91-man roster enters with a clean slate. Still, there are some who are in bigger need of a strong camp than others. Here are five players with the most to gain, or lose, based on their performance over the next month.
These five are listed in no particular order.
WR Roman Wilson
A great summer could land Roman Wilson the No. 3 receiver job over rookie Germie Bernard. A poor summer could land Wilson off the roster. There’s a wide range of outcomes, and Wilson has to fight the significant history working against him.
Wilson must show he’s on better page with QB Aaron Rodgers than the two were last season. Making the trip to Wyoming with Rodgers and teammates is a good start, but Wilson spent time with Rodgers in Malibu last season. It didn’t make for magic.
Rodgers practicing throughout the spring and the two naturally having a year together is what will truly help. Wilson no longer feels like a rookie either after getting to truly practice and play for the first time in 2025. He’s flashed the talent, but there’s no time to waste. With little special teams value, Wilson must make plays in the passing game.
QB Will Howard
There’s not much left to say. All there is to do is watch. Howard’s been talked about as much as any Steeler this offseason. Mike McCarthy’s set high expectations with the way he’s talked Howard up. Barring another injury, his first in-stadium snaps will come this summer after missing all of his rookie preseason due to a hand injury.
Howard is battling for the top backup spot behind Aaron Rodgers. If he performs well, odds are high he’ll secure No. 2 duties over Mason Rudolph. If Howard falters, Rudolph could grab it and leave Howard in uncomfortable limbo. Would Pittsburgh keep four quarterbacks, including a sour-summer Howard?
Don’t expect perfection. Howard will take his lumps like any young quarterback. His goal is to get better from start-to-finish, learn from mistakes, and look like a much-improved quarterback by August 30th’s cutdown deadline.
OG Spencer Anderson
Anderson’s roster spot seems secure. However, there’s a lot more to gain. Anderson is battling to start the season at right guard. He figures to enter camp in pole position over challengers Brock Hoffman and Gennings Dunker, but will have to hold both off the whole way.
If Anderson can lock down the right guard job and hold it throughout the season, he could be on his way to a serious payday. Entering a contract year, Anderson sees the potential dollar signs and just hired a new agent. Be it returning to Pittsburgh or hitting the open market, free agency next March could be prosperous. It begins with a great August in Latrobe.
Offensive tackle Dylan Cook is in a similar spot, but even if he opens the season holding the right tackle job, first-rounder Max Iheanachor has a real chance to take it away midseason.
RB Kaleb Johnson
Despite being drafted in the third round a year ago, Johnson enters training camp on Pittsburgh’s bubble. Competing with Eli Heidenreich and Travis Homer, Johnson must look like a much different player than he did last camp. That means showing a versatile skill set as a blocker and receiver while trying to carve out a path to special teams snaps.
It’s doable but won’t be easy, and Johnson has to show a leap in play. Or else he could end up off the roster come cutdowns.
ILB Carson Bruener
Adding one defensive name to the list, though there are simply fewer battles and intrigue than there is offensively. Bruener’s roster spot isn’t in doubt. Barring a disaster summer, he’s going to make the team. The question is his role.
An excellent showing could leap him to No. 3 on the depth chart. Heck, he could even push for a run-thumping role if Payton Wilson continues to struggle against opposing ground games. Bruener might make Malik Harrison and his salary expendable. Bruener is already a quality special teamer, but these next few weeks could elevate his value to something greater.
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