As was the case in Jacksonville, a significant contingent of Steelers' starters will be given the night off in preseason game No. 2 on Saturday against Tampa Bay.
As for those who will play, they'll be tasked with playing better against the Buccaneers than they had against the Jaguars in preseason game No. 1.
"Opportunity to take a step forward," head coach Mike Tomlin announced prior to the Steelers joint practice with the Buccaneers today at Acrisure Stadium. "Particularly those who are in their first NFL experience, man, it's reasonable to expect those guys to make a dramatic step between first experience and second experience.
"Guys like (rookie running back) Kaleb Johnson and others, man, we expect to really take a step and show growth, and more importantly let their talent show."
Tomlin confirmed "the same collection of guys that were held out the last time will be held out this time." He mentioned quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Jaylen Warren, tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth, guard Isaac Seumalo, outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, inside linebacker Patrick Queen and the "core secondary guys" (cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay) specifically.
The "Did Not Play" list in Jacksonville contained 23 names, a couple of which were held out due to short-term injury and/or resulting missed practice time.
Those dealing with such circumstances this time around will be given every opportunity to suit up.
"I don't want to exclude anyone at this juncture," Tomlin said. "We'll make those decisions at the 11th hour."
Johnson, a third-round lick from Iowa, carried eight times for 20 yards in the Steelers' 31-25 win over the Jaguars. He also caught one pass for 6 yards, dropped another, picked up a blitz on what became a 3-yard touchdown pass and missed an assignment on what wound up as a sack.
"I just want to see him trust himself more," Tomlin emphasized. "I want see him play more instinctually, trust his talents.
"And that's reasonable to expect between the first experience and the second experience."
Wide receiver Roman Wilson, a third-round pick out of Michigan in 2024, caught two passes for 24 yards against the Jaguars, the first NFL preseason action of his career.
Wilson missed all but one game as a rookie due to injury.
His roster designation is first-year pro rather than second as a result.
"I like the trajectory of it," Tomlin assessed regarding Wilson's preseason. "He's made plays when called upon. Hard working and available day in and day out. He brings a good, can-do attitude.
"He's an example of a second-year guy that, although he didn't have a lot of playing experience from last year it's his second year in the program and it should show and it has."
The second preseason game is the next step in a process that will ultimately result in rosters being reduced to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Aug. 26.
The collective performance of the 90-man roster thus far suggests some difficult decisions are looming eventually, but not yet.
"When you get a good 90 together you got a chance put together a good 53," Tomlin said. "And there's no question that this is a good 90. It's been highly competitive. I've seen growth and development, particularly in a lot of the younger and newer guys to us and to the league. It's certainly going to be some tough decisions, but it's their job to make it tough decisions, and they've done it. But I also acknowledge we have a lot of ball in front of us between now and then.
"The cutdowns have changed over the 19 years that I've been here in terms of the decisions that you have to make and when and how many. Haven't even begun to look at it from that perspective because we have a lot of quality days between now and those decisions."
