Kaden Wetjen took a punt 45 yards for an electrifying touchdown against the Buffalo Bills, reminding everyone why the Steelers grabbed him in the fourth round. Pittsburgh fell 28-27 in their preseason finale, but this game was the absolute last shot for a lot of guys to prove they belonged on the final roster. Wetjen delivered “the play of the night” to cement his spot, putting the Steelers up 27-17 and giving fans a massive reason to get hyped for the regular season.
Rookie Flashes and Special Teams Spark
Wetjen wasn’t the only rookie making noise, though, and it wasn’t just individual brilliance. The Steelers’ special teams unit delivered some crucial plays and got some lucky breaks, too. After an early punt, Bills running back Ray Davis muffed the return, handing the Steelers a prime, unexpected opportunity. Germie Bernard wasted no time, taking a screen pass 13 yards for a touchdown, making cornerback Max Hairston look silly in the open field. Then, a shanked punt by Bills punter Mitch Witchnowski set up another scoring chance deep in Bills territory, inside the 30-yard line. Five plays later, Lake McRee capitalized, taking a short pass and diving over defenders into the end zone for a five-yard score. These clutch plays were huge for keeping Pittsburgh in a tight contest, showcasing some real upside and readiness from unexpected places on the roster.
The Quarterback Conundrum Continues
While the rookies shone, the quarterback situation felt like more of the same. Will Howard and Drew Allar were again the only two signal-callers to hit the field. Howard started, but his play was, to put it mildly, “subpar.” He got sacked on the very first play of scrimmage for the offense. While facing pressure, his stats were rough: he went 2-of-4 for a dismal negative seven yards and endured three sacks on that limited attempt. To make matters worse, he tossed his third preseason interception, a throw that looked like it was somehow intended for Bills safety Damar Hamlin, strongly hinting at some serious miscommunication between quarterback and receiver. Howard finished his day 9-of-15 for 69 yards, with two touchdowns, but also that third, costly interception. Drew Allar, however, looked a bit better and showed more promise. He led an impressive 11-play, 68-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. On that drive, he completed 3-of-4 passes for 34 yards, including a solid 25-yard completion to Max Hurleman. Eli Heidenreich then punched it in with a nine-yard touchdown run, which was beautifully paved by a great lead block from rookie right tackle Max Iheanachor at the goal line.
This Steelers’ preseason wrapped up with a tough 28-27 loss after the Bills rattled off 11 unanswered points. Pittsburgh did have one last shot, driving downfield for a potential game-winning field goal, but they “turned the b” (I’m preserving the incomplete phrase from the source). Now, the hard part begins: roster cuts. These final preseason performances are going to weigh heavily on those decisions. But performances like Wetjen’s give fans plenty to be genuinely excited about heading into the regular season. What a play!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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