The Steelers bounced back after a tough loss in week 2 to upset the visiting AFC North rival Bengals. The offense was nearly unrecognizable, seemingly being able to move the ball and score at will. After scoring 8 points per game in their first two contests, Mike McCarthy’s unit impressed by tallying 30 on the high scoring Bengals. The defense was lackluster, but made timely plays to seal the victory.
Here are my thoughts and notes on the Steelers through week 3.
Jaylen Warren is Once Again the Teams Best Back
Jaylen Warren started the game by taking a short Aaron Rodgers pass for 30 yards. Chunk plays from the undrafted free agent would be the norm on this day as he served as the feature back with Rico Dowdle inactive.
He would finish the contest with 17 carries for 127 yards and 3 catches for 49. Such an impressive stat line still doesn’t do Warren justice, as a long TD was called back on a holding call and he failed to score on another due to losing legging just outside the end zone.
Since his rookie year in 2022, the likes of Najee Harris and Kenny Gainwell have stolen touches from Warren. It’s been apparent to nearly anyone with eyes that Jaylen Warren has been the best Steelers running back for five years now, but he’s never been given a feature role to prove it. On Sunday, he was featured and didn’t disappoint. Hopefully it was enough for McCarthy and the coaching staff to recognize that he needs to be a focal point of the offense.
Max Iheanachor
The Steelers’ surprise first round pick finally got his opportunity and he did nothing but shine. His performance was dominant and a large reason the offense was able to produce the way it did. Aaron Rodgers looked far more comfortable in the pocket and delivered what I see as his best game as a Steeler.
Iheanachor is oozing with traits and ability, and I believe James Campen is the right coach to develop him into a high level starter. In pre draft analysis, Iheanachor graded out as my top offensive tackle and 17th overall player, in large part because of his incredibly high ceiling as a prospect.
Iheanachor should stabilize the right side of the offensive line for years to come and could become a pro bowl caliber player, or better.
Roman Wilson Has Shown Us Who He Is
Roman Wilson had a fairly impressive game, catching 3 passes for 60 yards including a 38 yard touchdown in which he separated from the Bengals defense with ease.
Wilson would serve as WR3 for most of the first half, showing reliability and separating to create open throws for Aaron Rodgers. As usual though, Wilson wasn’t without his blunders.
After three seasons in the NFL, it’s time to accept that this is just who Roman Wilson is. He’s a shifty, talented route runner who makes mistakes at the most inopportune times. The Steelers drafted Germie Bernard because they know what Roman Wilson is. Give Bernard the reps.
Jalen Ramsey is the Best Tackler on the Team
A star studded Bengals offense fed their playmakers all day long and frankly, the Steelers let them. “Letting them” may not be part of the plan, but you can only hold top tier NFL talent back so much. Joe Burrow completed 28 passes and Chase Brown ran 13 times, but it never felt out of control for the defense.
The Bengals were limited to only 76 yards after catch, which is 2.7 per completion. The Steelers defense kept most plays in front of them and limited the damage after completions with good tackling. None better perhaps than Jalen Ramsey.
Ramsey was constantly near the ball and finished 3rd on the team with 8 tackles. His tackles aren’t score saving last ditch efforts, he often drives the ballcarrier backwards with form tackles. His edge and ability is needed in the Steelers secondary.
Chris Boswell Was On
Chris Boswell was off to a shakier than usual start after missing a field goal in each of the first two games in the 2026 season. Both were from 50+ yards, which happens, but Boswell has been so automatic throughout his career, it was enough to turn the worry meter up to 5%.
In week 3, he nailed all three of his field goals and extra point attempts, turning the worry meter back down to 0%, where it belongs.
Kaden Wetjen
The Steelers used a 4th round pick on a kick return specialist who doesn’t appear to be very special. Yes, it’s very early in his career, having played only three games, but so far we’ve seen.. nothing.
He averages 22.1 yards per kickoff return which is 42nd in the NFL. He ranks 17th in average punt return yards, which is well below the league median of 10.3.
Nothing is inspiring about watching him return and there are no signs of it changing soon. Unfortunately, there’s nothing else to do but to keep putting him back there and hope for some sort of pop or juice. Sure would have been a shame if they only kept 3 QBs in order to have Wetjen on the roster.
Darnell Washington is the Closer
Before last weeks game, I had a thought which turned into a post on X. Use Darnell Washington as your closer in the pass game when finishing a game.
If the Steelers are to play power football, like McCarthy said, then defenses will be worn down by the 4th quarter. Remember when Jerome Bettis was the “closer”? Duce Staley or Willie Parker would run the ball for 3 quarters, then a fresh Bus would get the rock against a tired defense? Think of this the same way.
You’ve run the ball all day long and it’s the 4th quarter and time to put the nail in the coffin. Now’s the time to feature your uber athletic mountain of a tight end who even the freshest man doesn’t want to tackle. Well, the Steelers did just that on Sunday, and you guessed it, nobody wanted to tackle him.
Play action action pass to Darnell Washington at the line of scrimmage with 6:17 in the 4th quarter – it’s all power and business decisions from there, 47 yards of it. As the Steelers (hopefully) lean into the run game, Washington will continue to be a powerful tool to use to help close out games in the 4th quarter.
Respect for Amarius Mims
T.J. Watt had been off to a defensive player of the year caliber start after two games, but was stonewalled by Bengals right tackle, Amarius Mims. Cincinnati’s offensive line isn’t as woeful as people judge it to be, and Mims is a big reason why. Listed at 6’8″, 350 pounds, Mims is an absolute unit of a blocker, one that even Watt couldn’t crack.
Mims didn’t allow a single sack in the final 8 games of the 2025 season, which earned him my Breakout Player of the Year candidate for the Bengals in 2026. According to PFF, Mims hasn’t allowed a sack, hit or hurry in 178 snaps this season. He’s well on his way to becoming a top tackle in the NFL that the Steelers will learn to deal with.
