Pittsburgh’s Week 1 defense is reimagined around six new starters, with Loudermilk stepping in for Heyward as the anchor up front and a reshaped secondary led by Ramsey, Slay and Thornhill. Watt and Highsmith form the edge duo, while Queen and Wilson patrol the middle, complemented by a retooled back end featuring Porter Jr. and Thornhill. The unit leans on speed and versatility to pressure Zach Wilson and throttle the Jets’ passing game from the start, keeping the scoring ceiling high for fantasy defenses.

The secondary’s youth comes with upside and risk, as Slay, Ramsey and Porter Jr. bring playmaking and length, but their cohesion will be tested early. Thornhill provides range at free safety alongside Elliott at deep safety, creating a flexible, hybrid look on nickel. On the defensive line, Harmon’s debut in the rotation, Benton’s interior presence, and Loudermilk’s length inject disruption behind an upgraded linebacking corps. This group projects as a solid Week 1 fantasy play with a real chance for sacks, turnovers and a stout run stop.

From a fantasy perspective, Week 1 figures to be a grind-the-stats matchup for the Jets, with Pittsburgh's revamped front seven and savvy defensive backs posing frequent challenges. The Steelers’ mix of veteran leadership and youthful athleticism offers a high floor for tackles and a ceiling for big plays, especially with Watt and Highsmith teeing off. The new-look secondary can generate interceptions and pass deflections, heightening fantasy upside in a low-scoring affair.

Juan Thornhill takes No. 22 with 22 days until the Steelers meet the Jets at MetLife, stepping into a slot vacated by Minkah Fitzpatrick’s trade. Thornhill arrives with a two-time-Super Bowl pedigree from Kansas City and Cleveland, expected to anchor Pittsburgh’s back end and bring ball skills to a revamped safety corps.

Historically, No. 22 in Pittsburgh has belonged to Najee Harris (2021–2024), Steven Nelson (2019–2020), Stevan Ridley (2018), and William Gay (2007–2017). Gay stands as the franchise’s best 22, a lockdown presence who turned interceptions into touchdowns and helped power a Super Bowl XLIII-winning defense. Harris earns an honorable mention for four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a 2021 Pro Bowl nod, underscoring the jersey’s storied weight.

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s switch to the Dolphins opened the door for Thornhill’s Steelers’ tenure, and the countdown to kickoff now centers on how quickly the back end clicks with Thornhill’s versatility. The Jets pose an early test, but the No. 22 lineage suggests a Jersey with a legacy of playmaking and resilience—traits Thornhill will be counted on to revive in a Pittsburgh defense in transition.

Pittsburgh’s defense enters a window of heightened expectation. Mike Tomlin’s bold optimism underscores a unit rebuilt to stop the run and sharpen back-end communication after a troublesome finish to 2024. The influx includes Darius Slay, Jalen Ramsey, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Brandin Echols, joining a defensive core led by T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward with Patrick Queen in the mix. Ramsey’s role as a multifaceted striker at free safety has already yielded an early highlight, and Metcalf’s praise of the defense adds a level of respect from a firsthand rival. Aging stars on the Steelers, including Heyward at 36, add a caveat about longevity, even as Harmon, Black and Sawyer push to prove themselves. Tomlin’s history of dominant defenses, from his Buccaneers stint to Pittsburgh’s early-season excellence, provides a blueprint, but skepticism remains about the 30-plus group’s ability to sustain a historic run. The potential payoff is a defense that could redefine Pittsburgh’s ceiling, possibly even sparking a long-awaited playoff breakthrough if the scheme and communication click under pressure.

Pittsburgh closed Week 1 of the preseason with a win and a passing-driven vibe, but the real story is the competition brewing behind the top starters. Kaleb Johnson flashed resilience behind a leaky run block, drawing a line between the tape and the box score, as the line’s woes watered down his true impact. Max Hurleman and Roc Taylor both pressed for a late-roster berth, turning exhibitions into auditioning grounds for the last WR spots. On the O-line, Troy Fautanu stood as a reliable anchor on run plays and pass protection, a small but meaningful win for the depth. Yahya Black flashed lateral agility in limited work and earned a bigger leash, while Jack Sawyer and DeMarvin Leal faced the need to raise their confidence and reps. Juan Thornhill assumed a vocal, steadying presence at free safety, and Chuck Clark’s opportunities to prove his value persisted, even as the defense navigated evolving roles. The undercurrent is clear: this roster battle isn’t decided on Week 1, but the path to the final cut line is narrowing by the day.

Fantasy managers should monitor Hurleman and Taylor as potential sleepers who could climb the depth chart if their quarterback chemistry holds. Johnson’s productivity is tethered to the line’s improvement, but his vision and patience suggest upside if Pittsburgh can fix the front. Fautanu’s performance argues for a steadier plug-and-play option on the edge of the starting unit, while Thornhill’s leadership could stabilize a secondary retooling. Leal still needs a breakout moment to shed the tweener label, and Clark’s veteran presence could stabilize the back end as the Steelers experiment with combinations. In short, the week’s performances hint at a few overnight roster movements and several players who could pay off as potential fantasy upside if and when the depth chart locks in.

Bottom line: a strong start for the passing game, but the Steelers still need to firm up the trenches and finish drives. The week’s standouts signal which names could push for real snaps when the bullets fly, while the rest will be concentrated into the practice-field chess match that leads to September.

Cam Little’s 70-yard heave before halftime was an unforgettable preseason moment, even if it won’t count as an official NFL record. Jacksonville’s kicker teased a miracle, while Pittsburgh’s 31-25 win over the Jaguars underscored early depth testing for both teams. The top rookies on each side—Kaleb Johnson for Jacksonville and Bhayshul Tuten for Pittsburgh—took meaningful looks, and Travis Hunter’s two-way NFL debut drew attention to versatility at the next level. Juan Thornhill showed up early for Pittsburgh, laying a impact-filled, catch-free 12-snap performance in coverage that mattered in the late stages of the game. PFF’s postgame grades and snapshots will refine these first impressions come tomorrow afternoon.

From a fantasy lens, Thornhill’s debut boosts the Steelers’ defensive ceiling and could translate into more turnovers and plays for the secondary. Johnson’s early usage signals potential for a breakout right Now, while Tuten’s role hints at Pittsburgh’s backfield depth battles continuing into August. Little’s leg offered a tantalizing Keenum-like flare—unreliable for immediate fantasy value, but a reminder that unusual, long-range kicks can influence late-game scoring in the preseason. The box score and red-zone efficiency paint a picture of a Steelers offense with momentum and a Jaguars squad experimenting with rookies and depth, setting a few intriguing watch-list names for late drafts and dynasty rosters.