Robert Spears-Jennings
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a particularly rough week against the New England Patriots, but the rookie class still had a few positives to note. Germie Bernard played 55 offensive snaps after logging just three a week ago, and Robert Spears-Jennings is racing toward a special teams tackle record.
Still just seven of the 11 total rookies got a helmet on game day with Kevin Jobity Jr., Gabriel Rubio, Gennings Dunker, and Drew Allar inactive on Sunday.
As always, I watched every snap—offense, defense, and special teams—to analyze each rookie’s play, pull video examples, and ultimately assign a grade.
Week 2 – At New England Patriots
OT Max Iheanachor
Snaps: 3 on offense (4 percent), 0 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 60.5 offense
When the Steelers pulled Aaron Rodgers at the end of the game, they also used it as an opportunity to get Iheanachor a few snaps in place of Dylan Cook. It was a small sample size, and he had fresh legs going against a fatigued fourth-quarter opponent, but he looked solid.
The first-round pick is quick out of his stance, smooth with his feet, and knew when to open his hips to run the pass rusher up the arc. It’s still hard to give him a letter grade, so I’ll leave it incomplete for now.
Max Iheanachor – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/KYNXZ3245C
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: INC
Season GPA: N/A
WR Germie Bernard
Snaps: 55 on offense (79 percent), 0 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 53.3 offense
Bernard absorbed all of the snaps Michael Pittman Jr. wasn’t able to play while out with injury. He had a positive day overall with one big mistake. But he became only the second wide receiver to ever catch four passes on the same drive from Aaron Rodgers. It was one of the only drives the Steelers were able to move the ball, and Bernard has one of just five third-down conversions the Steelers have managed this season.
The second-round pick did a nice job slowing down out of his break to exploit the soft spot of the zone and held onto the ball through contact. He even managed a few extra yards after the initial hit.
Germie Bernard – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/sCjNzrlqIa
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Bernard ended the day on a sour note, trying to make a move before he fully secured the catch and bobbling the ball into the air for an interception. Aaron Rodgers called it a rookie play. Not a great way to earn his trust.
Germie Bernard – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/8qwPiB46eq
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.7
CB Daylen Everette
Snaps: 8 on defense (15 percent), 11 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 62.4 defense, 54.3 special teams
Everette played more defensive snaps this week, but there was nothing worthy of grading. All the plays were run away from his side. He gets an incomplete this week. His most notable play of the game was nearly downing a punt at the 1-yard line (but failing).
Daylen Everette – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/ndxXopgOQ5
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: INC
Season GPA: 2.3
RET/WR Kaden Wetjen
Snaps: 0 on offense (0 percent), 9 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 59.3 KR, 62.3 PR
The one note I have for Wetjen, with otherwise unremarkable play in Week 2, is he has to clean up the bobbled punts. He hasn’t lost one yet, but he’s gotten far too close.
Kaden Wetjen – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/5Quq8E0VBY
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: C-
Season GPA: 2.2
FB/TE Riley Nowakowski
Snaps: 2 on offense (3 percent), 18 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 60.0 offense, 58.1 special teams
The Steelers didn’t use a fullback much in this game. One of his two offensive snaps was as a tight end on the tush push play. He was solid on special teams though with good effort as a blocker and smart play while running down punts.
On this play, he pancakes his man at the line of scrimmage. Then, instead of sprinting downfield, he wisely widened out to cut off Marcus Jones’ escape lane up the left sideline. If he hadn’t done that, Jones may have taken it to the house.
Riley Nowakowski – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/F6LIGcefId
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: C
Season GPA: 2.5
S Robert Spears-Jennings
Snaps: 1 on defense (2 percent), 23 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 60.0 defense, 90.6 special teams
What more can I really say about Spears-Jennings on special teams? He had four more tackles and now leads the league with seven. He is great with his details, his athleticism is off the charts, and he gives 100-percent effort every play, both as a tackler and blocker. His future is bright, and probably on more than just special teams.
Robert Spears-Jennings – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/L9yNMOBxbW
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: A
Season GPA: 3.65
RB Eli Heidenreich
Snaps: 0 on offense (0 percent), 5 on special teams
Pro Football Focus Grade: 59.5 special teams, 59.9 KR
Heidenreich, at least so far, hasn’t shown much juice with the ball in his hands as a return man. He only had one opportunity in this game. There was not much to note from him in this game overall.
Eli Heidenreich – Week 2 pic.twitter.com/YXcelTNdgz
— Steelers Clips (@Steelers_Clips_) September 22, 2026
Week 2 Grade: INC
Season GPA: 1.7
Past Report Cards:
Week 1