Steelers notebook: Rookie Beanie Bishop a surprise inactive in preseason game vs. Bills

Among five notable players who were not in uniform because of injury for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Saturday’s preseason game was one whose ailment was not previously known.

Rookie defensive back Beanie Bishop did not play against the Buffalo Bills. A source told TribLive the decision was “precautionary” related to the undisclosed injury. The undrafted Bishop has taken the vast majority of the first-team snaps at nickel/slot throughout summer workouts and training camp, although early this past week the Steelers were using Grayland Arnold in that role. Arnold, though, was placed on injured reserve Thursday.

Without Bishop nor Arnold, Thomas Graham Jr. handled most of the defensive duties in the slot Saturday. Signed by the Steelers in January, Graham has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since 2022 and has 11 career appearances.

The Steelers did not re-sign last year’s nickel back, Chandon Sullivan, and the veteran player they signed in June capable of filling that role — Cameron Sutton — will serve a suspension for the first eight games of the season.

Watt, Heyward do not play

Other Steelers players who did not dress for the second preseason game were rookie first- and third-round picks (tackle Troy Fautanu and receiver Roman Wilson, respectively), center Nate Herbig and reserve running back Jonathan Ward.

All have injuries that have had them out for varying periods of practice: Fautanu (knee), Wilson (ankle), Herbig (shoulder) and Ward (hamstring).

Healthy veterans who were in uniform but did not play were defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Watt and Heyward presumably were held out of the game by coach Mike Tomlin. Highsmith has missed more than a week of practice because of a groin injury.

Watt and Heyward joined starting quarterback Russell Wilson as captains for the pregame coin toss.

Most starters play

Aside from Watt, Heyward, Highsmith, Bishop and Herbig, all other players who are listed as starters on the official depth chart played for the Steelers. That includes Russell Wilson, left guard Isaac Seumalo, inside linebacker Patrick Queen, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and kicker Chris Boswell — all of whom did not play during the preseason opener eight days prior at home against the Houston Texans.

Cordarrelle Patterson made his Steelers debut, but the veteran did not return kickoffs. He played running back and had two first-half touches: a carry for a loss of 1 yard and a reception for no gain. Patterson, 33, is the NFL career record-holder for kickoff return touchdowns but has not repped any kickoff returns so far in training camp. Patterson suffered a hamstring injury while training over the summer and opened camp on the non-football injury list.

Rookie second-round pick Zach Frazier started in place of Nate Herbig, and Isaiahh Loudermilk got the start in lieu of Heyward. Nick Herbig and Julius Welschof were at outside linebacker for the first snap instead of Watt and Highsmith.

Warren, Wilson leave game

Running back Jaylen Warren did not play after suffering a hamstring injury early during the second quarter.

Rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson walked gingerly off the field following a play early in the third quarter. He was evaluated in the medical tent on the sideline, and soon after the Steelers said he was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a possible concussion.

Another Steelers player knocked out of Saturday’s game because of injury was veteran cornerback Anthony Averett, who suffered a hamstring injury during the third quarter.

Happy returns

Running back La’Mical Perine and No. 4 quarterback John Rhys Plumlee were deep to return the first-half kickoffs for the Steelers. Each had one return.

Receiver Calvin Austin III handled the punt-return duties in the first half, tallying four for an average of 10.8 yards per return.

Against the Texans the week before, receiver Quez Watkins was the first punt returner — but Watkins muffed a punt.

Watkins, Austin and receiver Scotty Miller most often have been the punt returners during camp drills.

Sack man

Nick Herbig had 1 1/2 sacks of former Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky during the first quarter, the second of which he shared with Keeanu Benton.

Herbig has five sacks in five career preseason games. A fourth-round pick last year, Herbig has had at least one sack in four of the five preseason games he’s played — during the other (Aug. 9 against Houston), Herbig at least was credited with a QB hit.