Pittsburgh Steelers

Tim Twentyman takes a look at five things to watch in Sunday's Lions-Steelers preseason matchup.

Depending if the Lions keep nine or 10 offensive linemen on the initial 53, Tommy Kraemer and Logan Stenberg could be vying for one spot or could be the last two in. It's hard not to root for Okudah to have a bounce-back season in 2022 after injuries derailed his first two seasons. the decisions they had to make this time a year ago. Kennedy has been the most productive of that group, catching 13 balls for 128 yards and two scores through the first two preseason games. - Backup tight end: Likely two spots available with Brock Wright being a favorite for one spot. Today is an important day for the couple starting spots on defense up for grabs, other backup spots and those final roster decisions that are going down to the wire. The first-team defense played one series against the Falcons in the preseason opener and allowed a 12-play, 82-yard drive that took almost nine and half minutes off the clock. With the starters and key reserves expected to play today, it's a great opportunity to see if that unit can keep the upward trend going. Either way, it will be a big game for both Boyle and Blough to leave a lasting impression on Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes. It will be a good test today for those guys up front. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said the plan was for most of the starters to play about a half today, though quarterback "I don't see Goff playing and he's not going to talk me into it," Campbell said this week, referencing how Goff was able to talk his way into the preseason opener when he wasn't scheduled to play.

The Lions wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 19-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Derrick Barnes is slowly figuring things out, Malcolm Rodriguez is vastly outperforming his draft stock, and veteran Alex Anzalone looked solid in his only preseason action of the year. Okudah was never going to be handed a starting position but should have things locked up after a strong performance in the Steel City. Not a lot of teams in the NFL can claim their backup quarterback situation is ideal. There are areas to improve on the roster, but the Lions have legitimate talent in the trenches. On money-downs, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky rarely had a clean pocket to work out of, leaving the Steelers settling for field goals even when they had favorable starting field position. Watt, and carved out some big running lanes on the ground, especially later in the game.

A look at all of the activities happening before today's Steelers game against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium.

Don't forget to use [#HereWeGo](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HereWeGo?src=hash). [Click here](https://www.steelers.com/audio/steelers-radio-network/)for a list of our radio affiliates. For a full description of features, requirements, limitations, and other information, visit [NFL+ Support](https://support.nfl.com/hc/en-us) Fans can listen to pregame and postgame programming from anywhere in the world on these platforms. Desktop user may listen to this broadcast from anywhere in the world on Steelers.com. Tune in: Steelers Nation, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch your Steelers live and on the go! And he is hoping to do some of that against the Lions today in the preseason finale, a game he knows will be the final test. Shank competed on NBC's The Voice. "It's in the back of my mind," said Vaughns. "Just all the work you put in through camp you want to make it show in every game we play. Hearing from Legends: A live Legends Q & A will take place at the FedEx Great Hall Stage at 3:30 p.m. They will also be a part of the youth football halftime activities.

The Detroit Lions lost their preseason finale, and in the process, a lot of players were given a final chance to make their case to be on the 53-man roster.

This year certainly had a lot more competition in camp and preseason games, which is going to result in some very difficult decisions to be made. The competition for the backup quarterback spot came to a very predictable conclusion in this game. Now it looks a lot more uncertain, but leaving a bad final impression is not a great way to make the roster. However, the most compelling case to be made is for both to be on the roster. It also shouldn’t be discounted how the Steelers’ defense is among the best in the league. In a fairly low-event game, they lost 19-9 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Diontae Johnson and T.J. Watt both went down during the first half, Johnson with a shoulder injury and Watt with a knee issue. However, head coach Mike Tomlin ...

[bookmark All Steelers](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/) for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! Platel was in the locker room with a brace on his knee. Kazee suffered an upper-body injury and appeared on the sideline with a sling on his left arm. Johnson was seen outside the locker room following the game in a sling. Tomlin, however, didn't regret the decision, saying "you can't box without sparing." However, head coach Mike Tomlin said neither is expected to be serious and also mentioned both might have been able to return to the field if it were a regular season game.

Mitch Trubisky and the starters drove 58 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard pass to Dointae Johnson, before two holding penalties by Dan Moore and a false start by ...

[bookmark All Steelers](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/) for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! With 12:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Steelers got back on the board, hitting a 54-yard field goal. Meanwhile, Kazee was seen on the sideline wearing a sling on his left arm. From the 27-yard line, Chris Boswell scored the first points of the game, putting the Steelers up 3-0 with a 45-yard field goal. Six plays and 92 yards later, Trubisky found Steven Sims on a six-yard pass to make Pittsburgh's lead 16-0 at the half. That led to an exchange of three-and-outs by both teams before the Steelers offensive took over on their own 15-yard line. The two-point conversation failed, moving the score to 19-9. The Steelers opened the game with their starters and sent the defense out first - winning the coin toss and deferring until the second half. Detroit then drove 67 yards in eight plays before kicking a 36-yard field goal to make it 16-3. Watt, Diontae Johnson and Damontae Kazee all left with injuries. The Lions started off with a 15-yard grab by T.J. The Steelers' easy preseason win came with losses as T.J.

Despite taking more second-string snaps in practice, Kenny Pickett is listed as the Pittsburgh Steelers' third-stringer.

Lions](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-qb-update-kenny-pickett-win-lions) [Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtXkDMZuH7zvuNpy6RDfR9A) Lions](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-players-play-detroit-lions) [5 Players With Most on the Line in Steelers Preseason Finale](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/bubble-players-line-pittsburgh-steelers-preseason-finale) [Mitch Trubisky is Steelers Best Option at QB](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/mitch-trubisky-best-option-pittsburgh-steelers-qb) [bookmark All Steelers](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/) for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! Pickett is in the third-string spot, the same place he was in the last two depth charts. Pickett had been taking the vast majority of second-team reps in practice, particularly as the preseason moved into it's final weeks. PITTSBURGH -- Mitch Trubisky has all but cemented his place as the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback.

One unknown entering the Steelers' 2022 preseason was how coach Mike Tomlin would approach the three-game setup that's new to them, though it was instituted ...

Thursday, Tomlin called it “difficult but not impossible” for a player added this late in the summer to make an impression, but Riley may have done that in the absence of Kazee. He had a pass breakup in the final minute and would’ve been credited with another if not for a facemask penalty on outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed. A fourth-year player who started seven games last season for the Jets, Riley finished with four tackles, all in the second half. Claypool played last week against the Jaguars, but Austin, Watt, Adams, Highsmith and Allen didn’t see any action in the preseason. If the Steelers first carry Kazee on their initial 53-man roster, he will be eligible to return after missing a minimum of four games. He was then led to the medical tent and eventually the locker room for further evaluation. Veteran special teams ace Miles Killebrew did not play Sunday, missing all three exhibitions with a pectoral injury, and 2021 practice squadder Donovan Stiner was cut earlier this week for Elijah Riley, who was claimed off waivers from the Jets. That first blow to Watt had him moving gingerly, but it was another play on the next possession that sidelined him from there. I just think we should work towards player safety in regards to — because it’s a bang-bang play where a tight end goes up, then just goes straight for your knees, and he can get a running start at it.” While Johnson and Watt apparently avoided long-term setbacks, another player who was slated to be a key contributor did not. Now, we know: Tomlin wanted his starters, even the best of the best, to get some action prior to the real thing Sept. Tomlin acknowledged postgame neither appears to be seriously hurt and if it were the regular season, they may have returned.

Tim Twentyman recaps the Detroit Lions' 19-9 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Blough was 4-for-7 for 50 yards with a 79.5 rating. They allowed nine points on three field goals, but two of those field goals were set up from turnovers by the Lions – interception and turnover on downs – deep in Lions territory that set the Steelers' offense up at the 19 and 25 yard lines, respectfully. Safety DeShon Elliott (four tackles) and cornerback [Jeff Okudah](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/players-roster/jeff-okudah/) (two tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended) played well too. Blough finished the game playing in the second and fourth quarters and was 17-of-32 passing for 160 yards with a touchdown pass and a 77.6 passer rating. The starters on both sides of the ball for the Lions left the game with the Steelers leading 9-0. Starters: There was some good and some not so good in the first half of football Sunday in Pittsburgh with both the Lions and Steelers starters playing the first half.

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave a grim assessment of safety Damontae Kazee's wrist injury, calling it significant.

[bookmark All Steelers](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/) for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more! Later, he was spotted on the sidelines in a sling. In the second half, he missed a tackle along the sideline and fell awkwardly on his wrist. [@si_steelers](https://twitter.com/si_steelers) [Like and Follow All Steelers on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AllSteelers) A report from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed that following the game, saying that Kazee will need surgery and the team will place him on Injured Reserve. He stayed down on the field until trainers arrived to escort him off.