Players to Watch – Page 2 – Redzone Insider

Preseason Week 1: Steelers @ Buccaneers Players to Watch

Steelers football is finally back. Tonight, we get to see a true Kenny Pickett lead team take the field. It been a long 215 days since the last time the Steelers played.

This is finally a chance to see Joey Porter Jr wear the Black n’ Gold just like his dad did for years. It also has been a long time coming for 2nd year wide receiver Calvin Austin III to make his debut.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense

2 Mason Rudolph, QB
26 Anthony McFarland Jr, RB
25 Darius Hagans, RB
19 Calvin Austin Jr, WR
21 Hakeem Butler, WR
89 Gunner Olszewski, WR
80 Darnell Washington, TE
77 Broderick Jones, OT
71 Nate Herbig, G
74 Spencer Anderson, G/T

Defense

95 Keeanu Benton, NT
68 Armon Watts, DT
98 DeMarvin Leal, DE
51 Nick Herbig, OLB
55 Cole Holcomb, ILB
93 Mark Robinson, ILB
35 Lou Barcoo, CB
34 Chandon Sullivan, CB
24 Joey Porter Jr, CB
41 Kenny Robinson, S

Players to Watch in the Steelers and Buccaneers Game

By Barb Layton

It is so great to be watching Steelers football even if it is preseason. I am sure there are several players you really want to watch in tomorrow’s game. Here are a few on offense and defense, I am interested in watching.

Offense
8 Kenny Pickett, QB
5 Tanner Morgan, QB
19 Calvin Austin, WR
21 Hakeem Butler, WR
82 Dez Fitspatrick, WR
80 Darnell Washington, TE
77 Broderick Jones, OT
53 Kendrick Green, C/FB
74 Spencer Anderson, OL
68 William Dunkle, G

Defense
95 Keeanu Benton, NT
96 Breiden Fehoko, NT
68 Armon Watts, DT
26 Kwon Alexander, ILB
51 Nick Herbig, OLB
55 Cole Holcomb, ILB
24 Joey Porter, Jr. CB
41 Kenny Robinson, SS
34 Chandon Sullivan, CB
17 Trenton Thompson, FS

Top 15 Important Steelers Players for 2023

This is a big season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after a 9-8 season in 2022 with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett becoming the clear-cut starter. And losing star OLB TJ Watt for a good part of the season. It got me thinking about who the important players are for the 2023 season.

I kept going back and forth between TJ Watt and Kenny Pickett, but after seeing what having TJ Watt on the field means, and how it impacts if it’s going to be a win or loss. TJ Watt has to be the most important player on this team.

Let get into the complete list.

TJ Watt, OLB
Kenny Pickett, QB
Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS
Najee Harris, RB
Cameron Heyward, DT
Levi Wallace, CB
Mason Cole, C
Pat Freiermuth, TE
Chris Boswell, K
George Pickens, WR
Alex Highsmith, OLB
Cole Holcomb, ILB
Larry Ogunjobi, DE
Joey Porter Jr, CB
Patrick Peterson, CB

Honorable Mentions

James Daniels, G
Broderick Jones, OT
Jaylen Warren, RB
Keeanu Benton, NT

My Sleeper Player
Mark Robinson, ILB

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 11 vs Bengals

This is a big game for the Steelers. They already have a 1-0 lead on the Bengals for the Season. The Steelers need to start stacking wins if they want to turn their season around.

This is also going to be Rookie QB Kenny Pickett’s first start against a team in the division. Outside Linebacker Alex Highsmith looks to pick up where he left off after the week one matchup where he had three sacks.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense
8 Kenny Pickett, QB
22 Najee Harris, RB
14 George Pickens, WR
88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
83 Connor Heyward, TE
65 Dan Moore Jr, OT
78 James Daniels, G

Defense
99 Larry Ogunjobi, DE
97 Cam Heyward, DT
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
51 Myles Jack, MLB
90 TJ Watt, OLB
29 Levi Wallace, CB
39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
23 Damontae Kazee, S

Special Teams
4 Matthew Wright, K
82 Steven Sims, RS
41 Robert Spillane, ST
13 Miles Boykin, ST

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 10 vs Saints

The Steelers are getting a big piece of the defense back this week with the return of TJ Watt. The Steelers are hoping this is going to help turn the season around.

The Steelers are looking to get their offense on track following the bye week. Some of the players have said this week that they have corrected some of the issues they were having.

Let’s get into the players.

Offense
8 Kenny Pickett, QB
30 Jaylen Warren, RB
14 George Pickens, WR
82 Steven Sims, WR
88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
83 Conner Heyward, TE
61 Mason Cole, C
78 James Daniels, G

Defense
97 Cam Heyward, DT
99 Larry Ogunjobi, DE
90 TJ Watt, OLB
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
23 Damontae Kazee, S
20 Cam Sutton, CB
29 Levi Wallace, CB
39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S

Special Teams
4 Matthew Wright, K
6 Pressley Harvin III, P
28 Miles Killebrew, ST
44 Derek Watt, ST

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 8 @ Eagles

The Steelers have a hard task this week of traveling into Philadelphia to take on the 6-0 Eagles. The Steelers have not won an away game against the Eagles since 10/24/1965.

The Steelers are entering this game at 2-5, but this team still has a lot of fight in them, and they are looking to capitalize on that. Even with the 2-5 record, four of the five losses have been by one score.

I could see this a possible breakout game for this offense with everyone counting them out. The Defense although beat up still put up a fight each game.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense
8 Kenny Pickett, QB
22 Najee Harris, RB
11 Chase Claypool, WR
14 George Pickens, WR
88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
65 Dan Moore Jr, OT
76 Chukwuma Okorafor, OT

Defense
92 Isaiahh Loudermilk, DT
57 Montravius Adams, NT
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
51 Myles Jack, ILB
42 James Pierre, CB
20 Cameron Sutton, CB
39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
34 Terrell Edmunds, S

Special Teams
6 Pressley Harvin III, P
82 Steven Sims, RS
13 Miles Boykin, ST
27 Marcus Allen, ST

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 6 Vs Buccaneers

This is a big game for the 1-4 Steelers who are looking to turn their season around against the Buccaneers. The Steelers defense is coming into this game pretty beat up, and to go along with that this offense is looking to find their identity.

This is going to be a tough game for the Steelers special teams with 10-15 MPH SSW winds along with 20-25 MPH wind gusts.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense
8 Kenny Pickett, QB
22 Najee Harris, RB
14 George Pickens, WR
18 Diontae Johnson, WR
83 Connor Heyward, TE
61 Mason Cole, C
78 James Daniels, G

Defense
97 Cam Heyward, DE
92 Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
51 Myles Jack, ILB
42 James Pierre, CB
35 Arthur Maulet, CB
21 Tre Norwood, FS

Special Teams
9 Chris Boswell, K
6 Pressley Harvin III, P
82 Steven Sims, RS

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 5 @ Bills

This is a big week for Rookie QB Kenny Pickett who Mike Tomlin named the starting QB earlier this week. Pickett is looking snap the Steelers three game losing streak on the road in Buffalo. This is also a big week for the Steelers Special Teams it going to be a windy day Sunday with 15-20 MPH SWS winds.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense

8 Kenny Pickett, QB
11 Chase Claypool, WR
14 George Pickens, WR
88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
65 Dan Moore, OT
76 Chuks Okorafor, OT

Defense

98 DeMarvin Leal, DE
99 Larry Ogunjobi, DE
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
51 Myles Jack, ILB
29 Levi Wallace, CB
20 Cam Sutton, CB

Special Teams

82 Steven Sims, PR/KR
9 Chris Boswell, K
6 Pressley Harvin, P
28 Miles Killebrew, S

Steelers Players to Watch: Week 4 vs Jets

The Steelers have been struggling this season on both sides of the ball. But this could be a rebound game for this team against the Jets. The Jets are coming in with 2nd year QB Zach Wilson getting the start after not playing since early August.

The Steelers have made a change to the depth chart with naming Montravius Adams the starting Nose Tackle. The Steelers are looking to get their pass rush going with Malik Reed and Alex Highsmith.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense

10 Mitchell Trubisky, QB
22 Najee Harris, RB
11 Chase Claypool, WR
14 George Pickens, WR
88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
81 Zach Gentry, TE

Defense

57 Montravius Adams, NT
98 DeMarvin Leal, DE
56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
51 Myles Jack, ILB
29 Levi Wallace, CB
21 Tre Norwood, FS

Special Teams

28 Miles Killebrew, S
89 Gunner Olszewski, KR/PR