Steelers Roster Battles to Watch at 2025 Training Camp

Quick Answer

The Steelers' 2025 training camp at Saint Vincent College features wide receiver and backup quarterback competitions as the most consequential roster battles. With George Pickens traded away and a new offensive system under Mike McCarthy, the receiver room is being rebuilt around DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., while Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar are competing for the QB2 role behind Aaron Rodgers.

Additional battles include running back, tight end, and special teams positions, with the roster needing to be cut from 93 players to 53 by August 26.

Key Facts

• Training camp is held at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with free admission to open practices
• The Steelers must trim their roster from 93 players to 53 by August 26
• Aaron Rodgers is the entrenched starter at quarterback; the battle is for the backup spot
• Mason Rudolph currently sits second on the depth chart, with Will Howard and Drew Allar competing
• The team traded away George Pickens, leaving a void in the receiver room that DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. are expected to fill
• Last season, Pittsburgh averaged 202.4 passing yards per game (22nd in the league) with -0.04 EPA per pass (17th)
• Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are competing for the starting running back role
• Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith are battling for tight end positioning
• Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman are competing at punter
• Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell are competing for a running back roster spot
• The team added multiple veteran pieces, including Jalen Ramsey, Jamel Dean, and Asante Samuel Jr., in the defensive backfield

Why the Receiver Room Is the Biggest Storyline

The Steelers walked into the 2025 season with a clear problem: they were not equipped to win through the air. Pittsburgh ranked 22nd in passing yards per game and 17th in EPA per pass, numbers that reflected both a quarterback situation in flux and a receiver corps that lacked difference-makers.

The trade of George Pickens removed the team's most explosive playmaker, creating both a challenge and an opportunity for the front office to rebuild the position group around a different identity.

The New-Look Receiving Corps

DK Metcalf arrives as the clear WR1. His size, speed, and ability to win contested catches give the Steelers something they have not had in recent years: a true alpha on the outside who can change how defenses game-plan.

Metcalf's presence alone should open up opportunities for everyone else in the room, because safeties will need to shade toward his side of the field. Michael Pittman Jr.

slots in as the complementary piece. Pittman is not the burner that Pickens was, but he is a reliable chain-mover who excels at finding soft spots in zone coverage and making tough catches in traffic.

He gives Aaron Rodgers a dependable target on third down, which should help the Steelers convert at a higher rate than they did a year ago. The depth chart currently lists Ben Skowronek, Germie Bernard, and Brandon Smith behind the top two.

Roman Wilson appears on some versions of the depth chart as a starter, while other listings show him in a rotation with Kaden Wetjen. The inconsistency in how Wilson is listed suggests his role is not yet settled, which makes him one of the more interesting players to watch as camp progresses.

Why This Battle Matters More Than Most

The Steelers have not had a truly dominant passing attack since the peak Ben Roethlisberger years. They have tried different approaches—adding veteran receivers, drafting young players, adjusting offensive coordinators—but the results have been inconsistent.

The 2025 approach is different in one important way: the team went out and acquired proven veterans rather than hoping for development from unproven players. This is a win-now move.

Aaron Rodgers is not a long-term answer at quarterback; he is a short-term bridge who gives the Steelers a chance to compete while they figure out the future of the position. Surrounding him with experienced receivers who already know how to get open and make plays is the logical approach.

The question is whether the Steelers have done enough, or whether the receiver room still lacks the depth needed to sustain a full season. The battle for the third and fourth receiver spots is therefore more than a depth-chart exercise.

Whoever wins those roles will see meaningful snaps in a Mike McCarthy offense that historically uses multiple receiver packages. McCarthy's system has traditionally featured the passing game heavily, which means the Steelers' receiver rotation will be tested more than it would be in a run-first scheme.

The Quarterback Competition Behind Aaron Rodgers

The starting quarterback position is settled. Aaron Rodgers will be under center when the Steelers open the season, and there is no realistic scenario where that changes.

The interesting competition is the one happening behind him, because the backup quarterback on this roster could end up mattering a great deal.

Mason Rudolph's Familiarity Advantage

Mason Rudolph currently holds the second spot on the depth chart, and that is not an accident. Rudolph has been in the Steelers organization for years, knows the city, knows the fan base, and has starting experience in Pittsburgh.

He is the safe choice—a quarterback who will not make many mistakes and who can manage a game if called upon. Rudolph's familiarity with the Steelers' organization gives him a comfort level that the other quarterbacks cannot match.

He has been through the ups and downs of an NFL season, has started games in Pittsburgh, and understands what the coaching staff expects from him. In a backup quarterback competition, that experience matters.

Will Howard's Upside

Will Howard arrived in Pittsburgh with a different kind of resume. He won a national championship as a starter in college, which means he has played in the biggest games and performed under the brightest lights.

Howard is younger than Rudolph, has more physical tools, and represents the kind of developmental project that could eventually become the long-term answer. The challenge for Howard is that he needs reps, and reps are hard to come by when Rodgers is taking the majority of the first-team snaps.

Training camp and preseason games are Howard's opportunity to show the coaching staff that he can run the offense effectively. If he does, the Steelers could face a difficult decision about whether to keep three quarterbacks or move on from Rudolph.

Drew Allar's Rookie Situation

Drew Allar is the wild card. As a rookie out of Penn State, he is not expected to compete for the backup job in his first year.

The Steelers will likely want to develop him slowly, which means he could spend the season as the third quarterback, inactive on game days, learning the system without the pressure of playing. Allar's presence on the roster does, however, affect the math.

If the Steelers decide to keep four quarterbacks, that takes away a roster spot from another position. Most teams keep three.

If Allar is not ready to be the backup, the Steelers have to decide whether Rudolph or Howard is the right insurance policy behind Rodgers.

What the Steelers Should Do

The smart play is to keep three quarterbacks: Rodgers, the winner of the Rudolph-Howard battle, and Allar as the developmental option. That gives the Steelers both a reliable backup and a long-term project.

The competition between Rudolph and Howard will likely come down to preseason performance. If Howard shows he can handle the offense, the Steelers might be tempted to go with the younger player with more upside.

If he looks overwhelmed, Rudolph's steadiness becomes more valuable.

Running Back, Tight End, and Special Teams Battles

The receiver and quarterback competitions get most of the attention, but the Steelers have several other roster battles that will shape the final 53-man roster. These positions may not generate headlines, but they matter just as much for the team's success.

Jaylen Warren vs. Rico Dowdle

The running back competition is one of the more intriguing battles on the roster. Jaylen Warren is currently listed as the starter, but Rico Dowdle is pushing him for the job.

Warren has been a productive player when healthy, but injuries have limited his availability at times. Dowdle is a more physical runner who can handle a heavier workload.

The Steelers have traditionally been a run-first team, which means the running back position carries more weight here than it does in many other organizations. The winner of this battle will get significant carries, and the loser could still see meaningful playing time in a rotation.

This is less about who wins the starting job and more about how the carries get distributed. Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell are also competing for roster spots, which means the running back room is crowded.

The Steelers will likely keep three or four backs, so someone with talent is going to be cut. Preseason performance will be the deciding factor.

Pat Freiermuth vs. Jonnu Smith

The tight end battle is another competition that has generated buzz. Pat Freiermuth is currently listed as the starter on most depth charts, but Jonnu Smith has pushed him throughout camp.

Smith is a more dynamic athlete who can create mismatches in the passing game, while Freiermuth is a more traditional inline tight end who excels as a blocker. The Steelers use multiple tight end packages, so both players could see significant snaps even if one wins the starting job.

Darnell Washington is also in the mix, giving the Steelers one of the deeper tight end rooms in the league. This is not a situation where the loser gets cut; it is a situation where the team figures out how to use its weapons.

The Punter and Returner Situations

Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman are battling for the punter job, which is a low-profile but important competition. Field position matters in the NFL, and a reliable punter can be the difference between winning and losing close games.

The returner role is also up for grabs. Kaden Wetjen is listed as the primary punt returner and kick returner, with Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren also in the mix for kick returns.

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has historically valued returners who can make big plays, so this competition could come down to who shows the most explosiveness in preseason games.

Defensive Depth Battles

The defensive side of the ball has its own competitions, though they are less contentious than the offensive battles. The defensive line features Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black as starters, with a mix of veterans and young players behind them.

The cornerback room has been reshaped with the additions of Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr., which pushes players down the depth chart and creates competition for roster spots. The safety position is similarly crowded.

Jaquan Brisker, DeShon Elliott, and Rayshawn Jenkins are all experienced players competing for starting roles and roster spots. The Steelers have invested heavily in the secondary, and the competition for the final roster spots will be intense.

What the Preseason Has Revealed So Far

The Steelers have already played one preseason game, and the roster battles have intensified as a result. The Green Bay game gave coaches a chance to evaluate players in game situations, which is where roster decisions often get made.

Early Standouts and Concerns

Players who performed well in the preseason game have momentum heading into the rest of camp. Players who struggled are now fighting to stay on the roster.

The coaching staff will use the remaining preseason games to make final evaluations, and the roster cut on August 26 will be the culmination of these battles. The Steelers need to cut their roster from 93 players to 53, which means 40 players will be released or moved to the practice squad.

That is a significant number of cuts, which means every player on the roster bubble is competing for his professional future.

The Mike McCarthy Factor

The arrival of Mike McCarthy as head coach changes everything. McCarthy is an offensive coach who has historically gotten strong production from his quarterbacks and receivers.

His system will be different from what the Steelers ran in previous years, which means players need to learn new terminology, new routes, and new protections. McCarthy's presence also affects the roster battles.

He will want players who fit his system, not necessarily players who fit the Steelers' traditional identity. This could benefit younger players who are more adaptable, and it could hurt veterans who are set in their ways.

What to Watch in the Final Preseason Games

The remaining preseason games will be critical for the players on the roster bubble. The backup quarterback competition will continue to play out, with Rudolph and Howard both getting opportunities to run the first-team offense.

The receiver rotation will become clearer as coaches settle on their top four or five players. The running back and tight end competitions will also get more defined as the starters begin to get more reps.

The roster cut on August 26 will be the moment of truth. Players who have performed well in camp and preseason will make the team.

Players who have not will be looking for work elsewhere. That is the reality of the NFL, and it is what makes training camp so compelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2025?

Aaron Rodgers is the clear starter at quarterback. The competition is for the backup role, with Mason Rudolph currently holding the second spot on the depth chart ahead of Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar.

Why did the Steelers trade George Pickens?

The Steelers traded Pickens as part of a broader rebuild of their receiver room. They brought in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.

to replace his production and give the offense a different look under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

When do the Steelers have to cut their roster to 53 players?

The Steelers must trim their roster from 93 players to 53 by August 26, 2025. The final preseason games will determine which players make the team and which players are released.

Is Pat Freiermuth or Jonnu Smith the starting tight end?

Pat Freiermuth is currently listed as the starter on most depth charts, but Jonnu Smith has pushed him throughout camp. Both players are expected to see significant snaps in a tight end rotation that also includes Darnell Washington.

What is the biggest roster battle on defense?

The cornerback and safety positions feature the most competition on defense. The Steelers added Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr.

in the offseason, which created a crowded secondary where several experienced players are competing for limited roster spots.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.