As the ink dries on Pittsburgh’s 3-0 preseason with a 19-9 victory over the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium, we finally have clarity on who the starting QB will (and should) be.
QB Mitch Trubisky (with a little help from his friend WR Steven Sims) finally found the end zone with 14 seconds left in the second quarter after calling on K Chris Boswell thrice in the first half to finish drives. Boswell – almost needlessly to say – connected on all three (from 34, 38 and 45 yards).
Meanwhile, the Steelers defense pitched a shutout in the first half and held the Lions to 3 points for 59 and a half minutes. Veterans DE Cam Heyward (2 batted balls), CB Cam Sutton (INT, 45-yard return) and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (Sack, PBU) were predictable stand-outs. MLB Devin Bush flashed his rookie season form with a 4th down run stuff.
QB Kenny Pickett had a somewhat quiet (10/14-90 yards) relief performance, although he did find this sweet back shoulder connection with WR Miles Boykin. Boykin caught all three of his targets last night and continues to shine as a gunner on the punt coverage unit.
WR Diontae Johnson jammed his left shoulder going to the ground making a big catch up the left sideline. OLB TJ Watt got his knees cut out by TJ Hockenson (TJ-on-TJ crime). Johnson played at least another down and TJ was back on the sideline for the second half. Mike Tomlin stated at half time both these injuries were minor, and the players could have continued to participate, had the game mattered.
S Damontae Kazee fell awkwardly on his hand after being hurdled early in the 3rd quarter and was later seen with an air cast on that hand. He was one of my favorite new-comers of camp; it’ll be a shame if this closes the door on his Steelers career but it may open a window for Miles Killebrew.
Steely Cam 