The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
KENNY CHRISTY FROM KNOXVILLE, TN: In the preseason game against the Jaguars, TE Darnell Washington was flagged after a touchdown for dunking the ball over the crossbar. When and why did this first become a penalty?
ANSWER: Dunking the football over the crossbar became a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the NFL in 2014, and that change stemmed from Saints TE Jimmy Graham, who made that a part of his touchdown celebration. All was fine until Graham bent a crossbar during a game, and it created a 15-minute delay for the crossbar to be replaced.
JAYLEN KENNEDY FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: From watching the Jaguars preseason game, are you comfortable with the receivers we have alongside DK Metcalf, or would you try adding another player to the receiver room?
ANSWER: The answer to that would depend upon who would be available and at what cost, in terms of both money and draft capital, because there isn't anyone to sign off the street who would provide a top-of-the-depth chart improvement. I'm not adding someone just to add someone.
LARRY LASH FROM CREIGHTON, PA: Whenever the team breaks camp and heads back to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and/or Acrisure Stadium they take 90 players with them, which is a lot more then they'll have come the regular season. How does the equipment team handle the locker situation? Obviously they have assigned lockers for guys who are considered locks at making the 53-man roster, but what about the UDFAs or guys who might not make the 53-man roster?
ANSWER: There are accommodations made to handle the 90-man roster once the team returns from Saint Vincent College, but remember the locker room that the team uses during the regular season is for 53 players plus a 16-man practice squad plus the guys on the injured reserve list. So there are not as many spaces to "create" as you might think.
GRANT SPELLERBERG FROM CUTLER BAY, FL: As an old school football fan I watched the first preseason game. I personally think the use of virtual measurement to spot the ball when it is close to a first down takes away a huge part of the "human" element. I know they are trying to be more accurate, but it takes away from the game. What are your thoughts?
ANSWER: If it's efficient, used appropriately and correctly, and doesn't unnecessarily waste time, I'm all for it. But from what I saw of its usage in the preseason game in Jacksonville, it wasn't all of those things.
JACOB ABBAS FROM CEDAR RAPIDS, IA: There's a lot of money wrapped up on the defensive side of the ball and I'm not opposed as long as the play on the field reflects the amount of resources that are being spent there. My question is, should the Steelers be seeking to trade players like Cole Holcomb and Alex Highsmith to target a proven No. 2 wide receiver to turn some of that defensive value into offensive production?
ANSWER: According to Spotrac.com, Cole Holcomb is scheduled to earn $2 million in 2025 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in March 2026, and Alex Highsmith is scheduled to earn $13 million in 2025 on a contract that binds him to the team until the end of the 2027 season. Which "proven No. 2 WR" do you think could be added in exchange for either of those players, because this is how a team with a "proven No. 2 WR" would portray Holcomb in trade talks – a 29-year-old who had a significant knee injury in November 2023 that caused him to miss all of 2024, and a player who's under control contractually for 1 season. And this is how Highsmith would be portrayed by another team in trade talks – a player who had 14.5 sacks in 2022 but in his next 28 games over two seasons combined for 13 sacks, and is a guy who never has been voted to the Pro Bowl. I believe Cole Holcomb and Alex Highsmith both are more valuable to the Steelers than they would combine to be on the trade market in return for a "proven No. 2 WR."
ERIC HUTTINGER FROM BEAVERCREEK, OH: Is the Cedric Wilson Jr. who is playing for the Saints, the son of former Super Bowl Champion and Steelers receiver Cedric Wilson?
ANSWER: He is.
MIKE FOSTER FROM EWA BEACH, HI: If I'm not mistaken, a player to be placed on IR after the preseason has to make the initial 53-man roster and miss a minimum of 4 games before he can be designated to return. Is the Will Howard injury a blessing in disguise in that he can be put on IR so that his broken throwing hand can fully heal and be rehabilitated before he's needed as the No. 3 QB?
ANSWER: Sure, that could be done, but when does a team know which regular season game will be the one where its first 2 QBs are injured and there will be a need for a No. 3 emergency quarterback? Because if your emergency No. 3 quarterback is on IR that week, he can't help you in that game when you need him. Also understand that players on IR are not permitted to practice, and so you'd be trying to stash a rookie sixth-round pick on IR to be your No. 3 emergency quarterback, and while on IR that rookie is unable to practice with his teammates, and a player who before going on IR was too injured to practice or play in any of the preseason games. If that's the way you want to run your team, you better hope you've got a lucky rabbit's foot preventing your top 2 quarterbacks from being injured.
JENNY GROVE FROM SEATTLE, WA: Good Morning Football rated all of the NFL teams a week ago. When the Steelers' turn came, Kyle Brandt yelled, "Butter Bean! He was old, fat, washed up, but man could he throw haymakers!" My question: Can the Steelers hire Butter Bean as a coach so late in the preseason?
ANSWER: Actually I was wondering whether you could hire Butterbean – and this is the correct way to spell Eric Esch's nickname, by the way – to help you with your submissions to Asked and Answered.
