SKYLAR THOMPSON
Quarterback
Coach Mike Tomlin has been heard to say it hundreds of times as it pertains to injuries. "One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity."
In regard to the preseason opener against the Jaguars in Jacksonville, the misfortune was Will Howard's because of a broken right pinkie finger, and the opportunity became Skylar Thompson's.
Thompson quarterbacked the offense in 6 of its 9 possession over the course of the game, and in those he completed 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) for 233 yards, with 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a rating of 132.0. In those 6 possessions, the Steelers scored 3 touchdowns and a field goal and converted 6-of-9 on third downs in what ended up being a 31-25 victory.
Thompson is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Mason Rudolph, who started at quarterback and completed 9-of-10 (90 percent) for 84 yards, with 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, and a rating of 135.0; WR Ke'Shawn Williams, who caught 2 passes for 55 yards, including the 26-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 31-22 lead in the fourth quarter, and added a 16-yard punt return; WR Max Hurleman, who caught 2 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown, and added a tackle on special teams; RB Trey Sermon, who caught 4 passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, rushed 3 times for 7 yards, and had 2 tackles on special teams; CB Beanie Bishop, who had 5 tackles and a pass defensed; ILB Carson Bruener, who had 4 tackles plus 3 more tackles on special teams; and CB Daryl Porter Jr., who had 3 tackles, including one on WR Eli Pancol where he kept him from getting out of bounds at the Steelers 28-yard line to allow the final seconds of the clock to run out.
