5 things to watch for as Steelers face Texans to open up preseason play

Many will say they don’t find much value in preseason games.

But rest assured, there are dozens in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room who view Friday’s 7 p.m. game in a completely opposite way. To those on the roster bubble fighting for their football lives, Friday is one of only three opportunities they have to build up game film for their vocational résumé.

Mike Tomlin said that “every year” he’s been Steelers coach, a player who otherwise was on track to be among roster cuts makes enough of his preseason action to make the team.

“You know, there’s a component of in-stadium play that you can’t anticipate,” Tomlin said Wednesday. “Somebody always surprises you in a positive way. Somebody always surprises you in a negative way.

“I’m always open-minded and excited about seeing who they are under those circumstances. And I’m, quite frankly, never surprised when someone runs their way onto this football team with their efforts in preseason.”

If parsing through the battles for the second backup interior offensive lineman spot, No. 4 inside linebacker and reserve subpackage defensive back/special-teamer don’t move the needle for you, here are five other things to watch in the Steelers’ preseason opener:

1. To the heart of Art

Friday is the public game debut of Arthur Smith as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. A recent former NFL head coach who just three years ago was one of those highly regarded, up-and-coming offensive minds, Smith needed a reputation reboot after three consecutive 7-10 seasons running the Atlanta Falcons.

While preseason games aren’t the time for a play-caller to show all of his cards, it will be interesting to watch how Smith utilizes his mobile quarterbacks, cadre of tight ends, pair of quality running backs and even the fullback.

The Steelers have made no secret of their desire to establish a physical identity. The hiring of Smith seeks to enhance that, and fans Friday will get their first chance to see the stamp Smith put on the team.

2. Fields-ing questions

Speaking of a chance of rehabbing a once-promising career, the same year Smith was a “hot” head coaching candidate (2021), Justin Fields was the 11th overall draft pick. But just like Smith, three middling seasons later he ended up with the Steelers via a demotion in his job title.

The starter for the Chicago Bears most of 2021-23, Fields sits at No. 2 on the Steelers’ depth chart. But because Russell Wilson (calf) has missed the majority of training camp, Fields has taken the vast majority of first-team reps.

The results have been mixed. Friday, the uber-talented Fields has an opportunity to show he’s grown into more of a complete, all-around quarterback. Still only 25 and with Wilson on a one-year deal, Fields can begin to stake his claim to be the Steelers’ quarterback of the future.

3. Rookie review

It’s very early, of course, but for the second consecutive year all indications are the Steelers have a strong rookie class. As many as eight rookies are on track to make the season-opening 53-man roster, and five or six are in the running to play a significant role on offense or defense.

But, as Tomlin said, what is shown on Chuck Noll Field is not the same as what the group does at Acrisure Stadium. The eyes of coaches and fans will be on tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier, nickelback Beanie Bishop, linebacker Payton Wilson and guard Mason McCormick. Sixth-round pick Logan Lee (a defensive lineman) and seventh-round safety Ryan Watts also have shown promise they can make the team as rookies. (Third-round receiver Roman Wilson almost assuredly will not play because of injury).

4. On the line

Three of those rookies — all taken in the top half of April’s draft — are offensive linemen, adding plenty of intrigue to how that unit plays against the Texans. Though it’s more likely than not that none of the three start the game, rest assured that first-round pick Fautanu, second-rounder Frazier and fourth-rounder McCormick will play plenty of snaps together.

And perhaps that trio will at some point Friday be joined by tackle Broderick Jones and guard Spencer Anderson, giving the Steelers a possible glimpse of their future line. All five players were drafted over the past two years.

Aside from that, how much — and how quickly — will Fautanu enter at right tackle? He’s been playing with the first team there over recent practices. Will Jones take reps on the left or right side, or both? Will Frazier perform to a level that forces coaches’ hands in promoting him over Nate Herbig as the starting center? Can Herbig, in game play, perform well enough to show why that hasn’t yet happened in practice?

5. Kicking things off

Arguably the biggest leaguewide storyline this preseason that affects all teams is the radical new kickoff rule. With one of the most significant NFL rule changes in years, the league intends to increase the volume — and excitement level — of kickoff returns while simultaneously doing its best to avoid injuries.

The 32 teams and their special-teams coordinators are largely going into this blind. The only test case so far was the Hall of Fame Game last week (which, coincidentally, featured the Texans).

Whether it works over the long term, the kickoffs during the first preseason games are one play no one will want to miss.