Roman Wilson
Roman Wilson
Multiple Pittsburgh Steelers starters will not suit up for Thursday’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that DL Derrick Harmon, C Zach Frazier, OG Mason McCormick and WR Roman Wilson are not in uniform, meaning they won’t play tonight.
Steelers not in uniform so far: C Zach Frazier, G Mason McCormick, DL Derrick Harmon, WR Roman Wilson
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 27, 2026
Additionally, QB Aaron Rodgers is not expected to play, nor is QB Mason Rudolph, though he is in uniform as he was last week. The Steelers will likely play Will Howard and Drew Allar the entirety of the game, barring injury.
Of the four Pryor listed, there are no known injuries among the group. It’s likely that the team has simply seen enough and doesn’t need to see more in its final preseason game. With the regular season looming, keeping players healthy is paramount and it’s not worth risking injury with two games of preseason already on tape.
SAF Rayshawn Jenkins also isn’t dressed for tonight’s game.
According to Pryor, Rodgers, OLB T.J. Watt and DL Cam Heyward aren’t with the team in Buffalo. Nor are WRs Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf.
Aaron Rodgers, Cam Heyward and TJ Watt didn’t make the trip to Buffalo tonight along with several of the players who’ve been dealing with minor injuries like DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 27, 2026
Pittman and Metcalf returned to practice last week but had been banged up over the last few weeks. Pryor also noted several other players who have been dealing with minor injuries aren’t with the team. While we don’t know exactly who those players are, it’s safe to assume SAF Jaquan Brisker and DL Sebastian Joseph-Day are among them.
LB Payton Wilson was also banged up in practice this week while SAF Sebastian Castro was in a boot. Their status for tonight’s game is unknown and we’ll find out shortly if they’ll wind up playing or if they’re with the team. What’s been reported so far isn’t a complete list of who is not playing tonight.
While players had traditionally traveled with the team under Mike Tomlin, players not traveling during preseason seems to be another change under the Mike McCarthy regime. Watt, Heyward, Rodgers, Pittman and Metcalf did not see any action in the preseason, and that looks to continue tonight as the Steelers wrap up their August slate.