YAHYA BLACK
Defensive Tackle
Some guys needed a big performance in the preseason finale to secure their spot on the 53-man roster. Yahya Black may not have been in that situation, but he delivered a big performance anyway.
The 6-foot-6, 343-pound interior defensive lineman who came to the Steelers as a No. 5 pick (164th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft finished the game in Carolina sharing the team lead in tackles with 5, 2 of which were sacks, and he forced a fumble in a 19-10 victory over the Panthers.
Black is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were QB Skylar Thompson, who completed 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) for 152 yards, with 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, and a rating of 141.0; WR Lance McCutcheon, who caught 3 passes for 52 yards and a 24-yard touchdown; OLB Jack Sawyer, who had 4 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, and a hit on the quarterback; WR Scotty Miller, who caught 3 passes for 82 yards, including a 53-yarder that set up a 38-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half that tied the game, 10-10; CB James Pierre, who had 1 tackle and an interception in the end zone; PK Ben Sauls, who made field goals of 38, 50, 49, and 28 yards; RB Trey Sermon, who had 39 yards rushing on 4 carries (9.8 average) and caught 3 passes for 14 yards; ILB Mark Robinson, who had 3 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery; and ILB Carson Bruener, who had 5 tackles on defense plus 2 more on special teams.
