Skip to main content
Join Now

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin reveals long list of starters out for preseason debut vs. Jaguars

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones08/07/25brianjones_93
Mike Tomlin (1)
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced the starters who will not play in the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers who won’t be in action are Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Isaac Seumalo, Jaylen Warren, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr, DeShon Elliott, Patrick Queen, Chris Boswell, Nick Herbig, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.

“I just feel comfortable with what I’ve seen from those guys through this portion of the process,” Mike Tomlin said during his press conference on Thursday. “That makes me comfortable of saying they won’t play this week. Next week may be different. We really respect the days that are this process, and I try not to make plans with broad strokes, but really more in small increments. So the decision not to play some of those guys that I mentioned really was based on what I’ve seen from them in this environment to this point.”

Which Steelers quarterback will start in the preseason opener?

It’s not surprising that the majority of the starters won’t play in the opener since that is the trend for most NFL teams. Steelers fans will have to wait a little longer for the debut of Rodgers, who joined the team in the offseason after spending the last two years with the New York Jets.

With Rodgers out and Will Howard dealing with a hand injury, Steelers fans could see a lot of Skylar Thompson on Saturday night. “It’s definitely not the way you want an opportunity to get more reps,” Thompson said, per Steelers.com. “But I’ve been preparing this whole time as if I am the guy getting the reps. So, really, nothing is going to change, other than me physically getting them now. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and getting out there and going to play some football.”

Due to the injury to Howard, the Steelers signed quarterback Logan Woodside on Thursday. The Cincinnati Bengals originally drafted Woodside in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.