Steelers Preseason Finale: 3 Winners, 3 Losers

The Steelers preseason finale delivered a revealing final audition before Pittsburgh turns its attention to the regular season. The Steelers lost 28-27 to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, but the final score was only part of the story. With roster decisions approaching, several young players had one last opportunity to strengthen their cases.

The game provided encouraging moments for rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard and return specialist Kaden Wetjen. It also created more questions around quarterback Will Howard and first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.

Pittsburgh entered the game with plenty of decisions still to make. The coaching staff needed to evaluate players fighting for roster spots, while several rookies were trying to establish themselves before the final cuts.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said the young players received significant playing time and that the experience allowed the coaching staff to see which players could step forward in important moments.

The Steelers now have to turn those observations into difficult roster decisions.

Steelers Preseason Finale Put Will Howard Under Pressure

Will Howard entered the Steelers preseason finale with an important opportunity.

The young quarterback started for the second consecutive preseason game and showed both the upside and inconsistency that have defined his recent performances.

Howard’s night began poorly when he was sacked on the opening play. However, Pittsburgh quickly benefited from a Buffalo muffed punt, giving the offense excellent field position.

Howard took advantage.

On the first offensive play following the turnover, he connected with Germie Bernard in the flat. Bernard made the defender miss and turned the short reception into a 13-yard touchdown. It was Howard’s first touchdown pass of the night and Bernard’s first touchdown of the game.

Howard then helped Pittsburgh produce another touchdown on its next scoring opportunity.

The quarterback finished his half 9-of-15 passing for 69 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also took a sack and struggled with another apparent communication problem that resulted in an interception.

That inconsistency matters.

Howard showed he can make quick decisions and capitalize on favorable opportunities. At the same time, turnovers and pocket-management issues remain concerns as Pittsburgh evaluates its quarterback depth.

The Steelers reportedly could consider carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster, although the final decision remained unsettled heading into the weekend.

For Howard, therefore, the preseason finale was neither a complete breakthrough nor a disaster.

It was a complicated performance.

Winner No. 1: Germie Bernard

Germie Bernard was one of the clearest winners from the Steelers preseason finale.

The rookie wide receiver needed a strong showing as Pittsburgh continued evaluating its young offensive talent. He delivered immediately.

Bernard caught Howard’s touchdown pass early in the game and did more than simply secure the ball. He shook off the defender and accelerated into the end zone, demonstrating the ability to create yards after the catch.

That type of play is valuable for a young receiver.

Bernard was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft after playing college football at Michigan State, Washington and Alabama. His versatility and experience across multiple programs helped make him an intriguing prospect entering his first professional season.

The touchdown against Buffalo gave him another important piece of evidence in his roster case.

Pittsburgh already has established receiving talent, which means young receivers must maximize limited opportunities. Bernard did exactly that when his chance arrived.

His touchdown also highlighted an encouraging connection with Howard.

Although one preseason play does not determine a player’s regular-season role, Bernard’s performance strengthened the argument that he deserves meaningful consideration when Pittsburgh finalizes its receiver group.

Winner No. 2: Kaden Wetjen

Kaden Wetjen may have made the biggest late-game statement of the night.

The fourth-round rookie had struggled earlier as a punt returner, but he changed the narrative in the fourth quarter.

Wetjen initially stepped backward before finding an opening and accelerating through the Bills’ coverage for a 45-yard punt-return touchdown. The play gave Pittsburgh a 27-21 lead with 11:11 remaining.

It was exactly the type of explosive special-teams play that can influence roster decisions.

Return specialists have limited opportunities to make an offensive or defensive impact, but special teams can determine whether a young player earns a roster spot.

Wetjen’s return showcased his vision, acceleration and ability to change direction.

The Steelers ultimately lost the game, but the touchdown could prove much more important to Wetjen’s individual prospects than the final score.

With roster cuts approaching, a player who can provide immediate value in the return game becomes particularly attractive.

Winner No. 3: Pittsburgh’s Young Offensive Talent

The Steelers did not get everything they wanted from the offense, but several young players showed enough to remain part of the conversation.

Lake McRee, for example, caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Howard. Eli Heidenreich later scored a 9-yard touchdown after taking a short pass from Drew Allar. Heidenreich also accounted for 29 yards on the drive.

Those moments reinforced the importance of the preseason as an evaluation tool.

The final game was not primarily about established veterans. Pittsburgh used the opportunity to evaluate younger players who needed live-game experience before the roster deadline.

That approach gives McCarthy and his staff additional information when making decisions that could shape the opening-week roster.

Loser No. 1: Will Howard’s Consistency

Despite throwing two touchdown passes, Howard remains one of the more complicated evaluations from the Steelers preseason finale.

His touchdown production was encouraging. His decision-making was not always as convincing.

Howard threw another interception after appearing to have a miscommunication with a receiver. It was his third interception of the preseason. He was also sacked after failing to get rid of the ball on a third-down situation.

The Steelers can live with mistakes from a young quarterback during preseason.

However, repeated turnovers and communication problems make the evaluation more difficult.

Howard is competing in a quarterback room that includes veteran Mason Rudolph and rookie Drew Allar, while Aaron Rodgers remains Pittsburgh’s expected veteran starter.

That means every preseason mistake carries additional weight.

Howard has shown enough ability to remain interesting, but he did not completely eliminate the questions surrounding his roster position or role.

Loser No. 2: Max Iheanachor’s First Impression

Max Iheanachor finally made his preseason debut, but the first-round pick’s performance was mixed.

The offensive tackle had missed significant time after suffering a neck and shoulder injury during training camp. He returned to practice shortly before the final preseason game and was given a chance to play against Buffalo.

Iheanachor played several series at right tackle.

The experience was important because Pittsburgh drafted him 21st overall in the 2026 NFL Draft with the expectation that he could eventually become a major part of the offensive line.

However, his debut was not flawless.

Iheanachor was beaten badly on a play that resulted in a sack, and he was also penalized for holding. The holding call was considered debatable in some reports, but the larger issue was simply that the rookie had limited live-game experience before this point.

It would be unfair to judge his long-term prospects based on a short preseason appearance.

Still, the performance demonstrated that the rookie needs more development before Pittsburgh can confidently rely on him in a major starting role.

Loser No. 3: Pittsburgh’s Offensive-Line Stability

The Steelers preseason finale also highlighted continuing questions along the offensive line.

Pittsburgh opened the game with a different starting combination than it had used throughout the offseason. Dylan Cook moved to left tackle, while Broderick Jones started at right tackle. Doug Nester, Ryan McCollum and rookie Gennings Dunker filled the interior positions.

That kind of experimentation is understandable during preseason.

At the same time, the changes illustrate how unsettled parts of the offensive line remain.

The Steelers need to protect their quarterbacks and establish a reliable running game once the regular season begins. That becomes particularly important when evaluating young quarterbacks such as Howard and Allar.

Iheanachor’s return gives Pittsburgh another option at right tackle, but his debut suggested that the coaching staff may not want to rush him into an expanded role.

The team has time to make adjustments, but the offensive line remains an area worth monitoring.

Drew Allar Continues to Develop

While Howard received most of the attention, Drew Allar also used the second half to gain valuable NFL experience.

Allar entered after halftime and helped Pittsburgh produce points, including the touchdown drive that featured Heidenreich.

His final opportunity came late in the game when Pittsburgh needed a comeback. Allar’s fourth-down pass intended for Lake McRee fell incomplete with 48 seconds remaining.

McCarthy reportedly viewed the situation as a valuable learning experience for the rookie.

That is important context.

Allar is not expected to be judged solely by preseason statistics. The Steelers drafted him as a developmental quarterback, and his ability to learn the offense and operate confidently will likely matter more over the long term.

His performance against Buffalo gave Pittsburgh another look at his progress.

The Final Score Was Less Important Than the Evaluations

The Steelers lost the game after Buffalo drove 59 yards on six plays for the winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:06 remaining. Pittsburgh had one final possession, but Allar’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

For Pittsburgh, however, the 28-27 loss was not the central story.

The preseason exists primarily to help teams make personnel decisions.

The Steelers saw Bernard score.

They saw Wetjen produce a spectacular return touchdown.

They saw Iheanachor experience his first NFL preseason action.

They watched Howard deliver two touchdown passes while also committing another turnover.

They gave Allar another opportunity to operate the offense under pressure.

Those evaluations will now influence the final roster.

What Comes Next for the Steelers?

The Steelers’ preseason is over, but the most important roster work is just beginning.

Pittsburgh must finalize its 53-man roster before the regular season. The team also has to determine which young players should remain on the active roster and which can potentially be developed through the practice squad.

The quarterback situation will receive significant attention.

Howard’s performance leaves questions that the coaching staff must answer. Allar’s continued development adds another layer to the decision-making process.

At wide receiver, Bernard strengthened his position with an explosive touchdown. Wetjen’s special-teams performance also gives him an argument for inclusion.

Meanwhile, Iheanachor’s debut should be viewed as the beginning of his NFL development rather than a final verdict.

The Steelers selected him in the first round for a reason. One difficult preseason appearance should not erase that investment.

Steelers Preseason Finale Reveals Important Roster Battles

The Steelers preseason finale ultimately delivered exactly what a final exhibition game should provide: information.

The 28-27 loss to Buffalo exposed weaknesses, but it also produced several encouraging performances.

Bernard looked explosive.

Wetjen delivered a game-changing return.

Heidenreich provided another touchdown.

Allar gained valuable experience.

Howard demonstrated touchdown-producing ability but also continued to make mistakes.

Iheanachor finally received live-game action but showed that he still needs development.

For McCarthy and the Steelers’ coaching staff, those observations are more valuable than a preseason win.

The regular season is approaching quickly. Pittsburgh’s next challenge will be turning these evaluations into a final roster capable of competing when the games begin to count.

The Steelers now have a clearer picture of which young players are pushing for opportunities and which players still have work to do.

And for several rookies, the final preseason game may have been their last chance to change the conversation.