The Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Mike Tomlin won’t play quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf, defensive end Cameron Heyward, or outside linebacker T.J. Watt Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale. That wasn’t an unexpected announcement from Tomlin.
But what it does it put more of an emphasis on the need for a fast start for the Black and Gold during the regular season, especially with the likes of Rodgers and Metcalf not taking a single snap together inside a stadium this preseason. Though the two are veterans and quite accomplished, they haven’t played together before, and they are in a new offense under coordinator Arthur Smith.