News Steelers Team Notes

Ben Roethlisberger buries Broderick Jones’ performance vs. Patriots

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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line has been under fire through the first three weeks of the season. And while they didn’t allow a sack against the New England Patriots, Aaron Rodgers has still been pressured on 52 percent of dropbacks in which he has the ball in his hands for longer than 2.5 seconds. Per Next Gen Stats, that is the eighth-highest rate in the NFL.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger weighed in on the play of the offensive line, specifically the play of Broderick Jones, and he didn’t mince words with how he feels about Jones’ performance.

“No sacks, congratulations,” Roethlisberger said on Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. “Aaron still got hit a bunch. There’s a play where Broderick Jones is standing completely upright, and the guy basically runs right through him.”

Roethlisberger adds that his former teammate and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, would have a field day playing against Jones.

“You can’t stand upright as a tackle. You’ve got to get low because guys are just gonna get underneath you. James Harrison, what did he talk about? Leverage. If James Harrison were to go against Broderick Jones, he would have 15 sacks a game… Broderick has to be better at protecting.”

Per PFF, Jones has allowed four sacks this season and nine pressures. He is one of the lowest-graded tackles in the NFL with an overall grade of 49.5.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ance-pittsburgh-steelers-new-england-patriots
 
Steelers injury report: Joey Porter, DeShon Elliott return to field

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting set to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday. Along with that, they seem to be getting a good note of health ahead of the Week 4 matchup.

Joey Porter and DeShon Elliott both practiced on Wednesday, which is a good sign for their respective statuses. The full injury report is as follows:

  • LB Patrick Queen: Limited Participant (Oblique)
  • CB Darius Slay: Did Not Practice (Rest)
  • CB Joey Porter Jr.: Limited Participant (Hamstring)
  • S DeShon Elliott: Limited Participant (Knee)
  • RB Jaylen Warren: Did Not Practice (Rest)
  • LB Alex Highsmith: Did Not Practice (Ankle)
  • OL Isaac Seumalo: Did Not Practice (Rest)
  • TE Jonnu Smith: Did Not Practice (Rest)
  • LB T.J. Watt: Did Not Practice (Rest)
  • DT Cam Heyward: Did Not Practice (Rest)

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...return-to-field-joey-porter-jr-deshon-elliott
 
Steelers Mailbag Callout: Submit your questions

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for a Sunday morning showdown in Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings. Ahead of Week 4, be sure to submit your questions in the comment section for the weekly mailbag, and return tomorrow to have them answered.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...teelers-mailbag-callout-submit-your-questions
 
Seahawks at Cardinals: Thursday Night Football open thread

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Week 4 starts tonight with a battle of the birds: Seahawks at Cardinals. It’s an NFC West showdown. Arizona lost James Conner for the 2025 season (hopefully he’ll be back in ‘26). The Seahawks maybe using only forks if they’re without ‘Spoon as Devon is dealing with an MCL injury.

What are your predictions for tonight’s game? Join your fellow Steelers fans in the comments for the first open thread of the week.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...cardinals-thursday-night-football-open-thread
 
Vikings will be without star OLB vs. Steelers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has a tough matchup in this week’s game, facing a highly-touted Minnesota Vikings defense led by coordinator Brian Flores. However, that unit will be missing one of its top players following the Vikings’ final injury report.

Minnesota outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has been ruled out for the game following a neck injury he missed time with during the week.

The veteran linebacker is coming off his best year as a pro, where he logged 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 79 total tackles, and two interceptions in 2024. Capable of off-ball duties as well as pass rushing, he’s become an important player in Flores’ creative scheme.

In Van Ginkel’s place, it’ll likely be 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner taking the majority of snaps. He had a quiet rookie season with just 20 total tackles and three sacks last season, but had a good game last week against the Bengals, logging a handful of pressures.

Joining Van Ginkel as out on the injury report are Minnesota’s starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, starting guard Donovan Jackson, and backup tight end Ben Yurosek.

You can view the Steelers’ final injury report HERE.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-brian-flores-defense-ireland-news-nfl-roster
 
Friday Night Happy Hour: Across the Pond edition

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Welcome back to BTSC’s Friday night open thread:

The big fanfare around the Steelers this week is naturally the team’s trip to Dublin, Ireland to take on the Vikings. This is both the second time the Steelers have played the Vikings abroad — the other being the only other regular season game the Steelers have played internationally, a 2013 contest in London — and the second time the Steelers have traveled to Dublin. They played the Bears during the preseason, winning 30-17. The Steelers have a fun photo gallery from that day on their website.

1. Hypothetically, pretending that cost was no obstacle, what locale outside of Pittsburgh do you think would be most fun to travel to for a Steelers game?

2. What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to? Can be anything from trips outside the country to a favorite spot stateside.

3. What are your predictions, thoughts, hopes, and/or concerns for this game against the Vikings?

4. This one’s a little off-the-wall, but I saw a video this week of a morning news show where an off-the-cuff answer about someone’s favorite soup led to a debate about what makes something a soup vs. a stew. While I’m not really interested in that line of debate, there were some funny reactions to the news casters’ favorite soup selections, and since Ryland was asking for soup flavors last year, I thought I’d put it to y’all.

What is your favorite type of soup?

5. Song(s) of the Week: As some of you may remember, I’m based out in Seattle. While I was raised to root for the Steelers in football, I’m a diehard Mariners fan for baseball. They’re having a bit of a moment right now and are positioned for what will hopefully be a deep playoff run. The Mariners are the only franchise in baseball that has never even appeared in the World Series, and this is the best team they’ve put together since 2001.

So while I’m still riding high on the good vibes, we’re doubling up our songs of the week this week.

First up, a song the players seem to have been rallying around lately:

“Mr. Rager” — Kid Cudi

The second is a song about growing up watching/listening to baseball broadcasts, especially the Mariners. I’m not a Macklemore fan generally, but he released this after the passing of longtime Mariners play-by-play broadcaster Dave Niehaus. Niehaus called Mariners games from 1977-2010, which means during my childhood, he was as much a part of the Mariners as guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro, and Edgar Martinez.

“My Oh My” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...iday-night-happy-hour-across-the-pond-edition
 
Saturday Night Open Thread: Dublin Down

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Live from Delaware, it’s Saturday Night! I, NAS204PSU, am here at BTSC to bring you this Saturday Night Open Thread (aka SNOT).

Week 3 proved the cheaters never prospered, with our Steelers doing enough to win 21-14 vs the *Patriots. This week it is a homecoming of sorts for the Rooney family, whose ancestors emigrated from Northern Ireland in the 1840s.

This 6 pack of questions is here to get the conversation going, also let us know what you’re eating/drinking!

  1. That win in New England, it’s grand, yeah? Which of these statements about the Week 3 win do you think is true:
    1. The Steelers won the game forcing turnovers.
    2. The *Patriots lost the game giving up turnovers.
  2. The Vikings defense forced 5 turnovers and scored 2 touchdowns in their victory against the Burrowless Bungles. Do you think Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers need a four-leafed shamrock to score, or is our offense good enough to go toe-to-toe with Minnesota Defense?
  3. Mike Tomlin must have kissed the Blarney Stone, as his gift of the gab has produced so many quotes they’ve become ”Tomlinisms”. What’s your favorite Tomlinism?
  4. Have you ever been to Ireland? If so, what was your favorite experience/site/thing? If not, is there something in Ireland you’d want to see?
  5. Famous Irish writers include: Bram Stoker (Dracula), James Joyce (Ulysses), and Oscar Wilde (The Picture of Dorian Gray). Who is your favorite author and some of their books/writings that you enjoy most?
  6. Here’s a link to some Irish recipes. Let us know which Irish foods you’ve had or would like to try.

    BONUS SOTN:
    Whiskey in the Jar by The Dubliners

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...159383/saturday-night-open-thread-dublin-down
 
Steelers vs. Vikings: Week 4 game thread

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Welcome to Week 4 of Steelers football!

Today, it’s a battle across the pond as the 2-1 Steelers take on the 2-1 Vikings in Dublin.

Pittsburgh is hoping to prove it’s as good as its record following a narrow win against the Patriots last week when the Steelers recovered five turnovers. The Vikings are hoping Carson Wentz can keep their star-studded roster near the top of the NFC standings.

Grab your morning coffee, hang out with your fellow Steeler fans, and enjoy the game. Stay tuned to BTSC for postgame news and analysis.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/game-day-threads/159362/steelers-vs-vikings-week-4-game-thread
 
Steelers WR DK Metcalf praises Calvin Austin for making 80-yard TD happen

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-1 after a 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The biggest play of the day came on an 80-yard touchdown strike from Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf to make the game 14-3 in the second quarter. Rodgers found Metcalf over the middle on an intermediate pass, and the Pro Bowl wideout did the rest, completing the longest touchdown pass of the season by any team.

However, when asked about the score after the game, Metcalf was quick to give credit to another receiver, saying the play doesn’t happen without Calvin Austin.

“I don’t think any of that happens without CA running his butt off on the backside,” Metcalf said via Mike DeFabo.

DK Metcalf credits Calvin Austin III for helping open things up on the 80-yard TD: “I don’t think any of that happens without CA running his butt off on the backside.” pic.twitter.com/zS1dGSdK15

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) September 28, 2025

Austin got out in front of Metcalf to throw a block near the goal line, which helped propel Metcalf in for the touchdown.

Austin suffered a shoulder injury later on in the game, but took to X afterwards to reassure fans that he was okay.

“Great Dub in Dublin!” Austin said. “I’m all good Steelers Nation, appreciate the messages and concern!”

Great Dub in Dublin! I’m all good Steelers Nation, appreciate the messages and concern!

— CantCatchCal (@CalvinAustinIII) September 28, 2025

The Steelers now head into their bye week, where they can focus on getting healthy before returning home for the first time since Week 2 to host the Cleveland Browns.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...es-calvin-austin-for-making-80-yard-td-happen
 
Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Calvin Austin expected to miss several games

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The Pittsburgh Steelers left Dublin a 3-1 team, and now they enter the bye week with a chance to get healthier ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Considering the injuries Pittsburgh suffered in Ireland, the bye week came at the perfect time.

Both Jalen Ramsey and Calvin Austin left the game with injuries. Ramsey is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Austin suffered a shoulder injury that required him to go to a Dublin hospital. Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, both are expected to miss multiple games.

“Steelers can use the bye,” Dulac says on X. “CB Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) and WR Calvin Austin III (shoulder) are expected to miss at least several games. Ramsey tried to return vs Vikings, but didn’t work out.”

Ramsey is one of the last players the Steelers can do without, as he has been their most reliable secondary member through the first four games. As for Austin, this should be the final straw for the Steelers in terms of making a move for a No. 2 wide receiver.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-calvin-austin-expected-to-miss-several-games
 
Week 4 Monday Night Football open thread: It’s another doubleheader

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It’s another Monday Night Football doubleheader to close out the NFL’s Week 4. But despite watching four teams tonight, there’s only one winning record in the bunch — and only three wins in total.

The 7:15 EST kickoff will be between the Dolphins and Jets in Miami. Each team is 0-3 and fighting to escape the cellar of the AFC East. The game will be available to watch on ESPN.

The 8:15 EST matchup will be between another two AFC teams: the 2-1 Bengals and the 1-2 Broncos in Denver. The Bengals are hoping to maintain their surprising high ranking in the AFC North, while the Broncos are hoping to climb back up the West’s standings. That game will broadcast on ABC.

As always: Who will you be rooting for? What are you watching for? And do you have anyone on your fantasy football team? Let us know!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...football-open-thread-its-another-doubleheader
 
Let’s talk Steelers: Will Pittsburgh win the AFC North?

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It’s a little early to talk about division standings, no? But the way the AFC North has fallen in recent weeks shouldn’t be ignored. It’s not what most expected, and it’s good news for Steelers fans.

Following Monday Night Football, the standings are as follows:

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
  2. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (1-3)
  4. Cleveland Browns (1-3)

Yup, that’s the highly-touted Ravens at the bottom of the pack, and the Steelers in sole possession of first place. A quarter into the season, Pittsburgh is in a great spot.

Will the Steelers win the AFC North?​


The question is phrased as “will” not “can” as the latter is obviously true — of course the team at the top of the standings has a good shot at winning the division crown.

But will they? For now, I’m holding firm to my preseason take that the Steelers will finish second in the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s division lead over the Ravens looks impressive right now, but it doesn’t take much over the 13 regular season games remaining for things to change.

But the Bengals? Following Joe Burrow’s injury they don’t look like a major threat. And the Browns remain in contention for the first overall pick even if their defense has teeth.

But the Ravens still have Lamar Jackson, even if his hamstring injury results in some lost time. Injuries and disappointing play are mounting up on defense — Baltimore is currently bottom two in the NFL in both points and yards allowed per game — but the Ravens showed they can bounce back from defensive woes last season. And on the other side of the ball, the Baltimore running game has had Pittsburgh’s number for two straight matchups.

There’s no denying that the Ravens’ recent underperformance, and the Steelers’ overperformance — at least, compared to preseason expectations — means the division is certainly up for grabs. But around a quarter into the season, I’m not quite ready to upend one of my more reasonable predictions. Remember, the Steelers held the AFC North lead late last season but were eventually overtaken down the stretch.

Still, entering the bye at 3-1, it’s been a great week for the Steelers’ AFC North hopes.

What are your thoughts on the Steelers’ AFC North chances? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ews-ravens-bengals-browns-win-rankings-record
 
Buccaneers swipe rookie defender from Steelers’ practice squad

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dealing with injuries to their secondary, and the Steelers are unfortunately losing a promising young player as a result. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay placed second-year safety Rashad Wisdom on injured reserve and signed Sebastian Castro from Pittsburgh’s practice squad in a corresponding move.

The Bucs have placed S Rashad Wisdom (quad) on injured reserve and signed rookie S Sebastian Castro off the Steelers' practice squad. https://t.co/mIfvVoWTWr

— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) September 30, 2025

Castro had yet to appear for the Steelers in a regular-season game. The undrafted rookie played relatively well for the Steelers over the summer, but was signed to the practice squad to start the year. Heading into Week 1, the Steelers carried four safeties on their roster: DeShon Elliott, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark, and special teams ace Miles Killabrew. With such a veteran presence at the position, it’s no surprise there was little room for Castro on the Steelers roster. The room has only gotten deeper since then with the addition of Jabril Peppers.

Tampa Bay seemingly has an affinity for Iowa football, of which Castro is the latest.

Bucs do love @HawkeyeFootball — new safety Sebastian Castro played at Iowa, much like Wirfs, Nelson, Merriweather, Jackson, et al. Signed with Steelers after draft and now plucked off their practice squad. Will help on special teams.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 30, 2025

It also seems likely that Castro impressed the Tampa Bay staff during the joint practices between the Steelers and Buccaneers this preseason. In that contest, Castro had five tackles, including two stops, in a 17-14 defeat.

It’s unfortunate we won’t get to see if Castro would have one day developed into a contributor for the Steelers. That’s the nature of the business, though, and we’ll wish him well with his new opportunity.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-rookie-defender-from-steelers-practice-squad
 
Steelers working out safety after losing Sebastian Castro

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The Steelers are checking out a potential addition to their secondary, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reporting Wednesday that the team is working out safety Mark Perry.

#Steelers are working out former @TCUFootball safety Mark Perry, previously #Texans #Patriots #Dolphins #Titans #Bears @KPRC2 https://t.co/vNgoO69uoy pic.twitter.com/8jVUeZ1l5q

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 1, 2025

The news comes a day after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers poached rookie safety Sebastian Castro off the Pittsburgh practice squad. As a result, the Steelers have an open spot and could be looking to fill it with another safety.

Perry went undrafted in 2024 out of TCU, signing with the Miami Dolphins. Since then, he’s had stints with the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and Chicago Bears. However, he’s yet to appear in an NFL regular season game.

In his last season at TCU, Perry logged 58 total tackles and four pass defensed. All three of his college interceptions came in his 2021 season with Colorado. The 6’0, 211-pound defensive back reportedly ran a 40-yard dash in the 4.4-second range coming out of college. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him as a “physical safety who leaves me wanting more due to his inconsistent play” in his 2024 draft report.

Perry was not immediately signed following the report.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ebastian-castro-practice-squad-safety-defense
 
Steelers worked out 5 defensive backs Wednesday

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The Steelers worked out five defensive backs on Wednesday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reported: Kendell Brooks, Jack Henderson, Maxen Hook, Glendon Miller, and Mark Perry.

The Perry workout was previously reported. You can read BTSC’s coverage of that here.

Brooks went undrafted in 2023, initially signing with the Arizona Cardinals. Since then, he’s had stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, and Tennessee Titans. He’s appeared in five career NFL games, playing 62 special teams snaps and logging one tackle. The 6’0, 206-pound safety reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at his pro day coming out of Michigan State.

Former #MichiganState safety Kendell Brooks with a pick-6 INT in the preseason:pic.twitter.com/5CO6D8SJFR

— SpartanTailgate.com (@SpartanTailgate) August 15, 2025

Henderson went undrafted in 2025, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s yet to appear in an NFL game. The 6’2, 215-pound safety reportedly ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash coming out of Minnesota, putting together a 9.37 Relative Athletic Score. As a Golden Gopher, Henderson recorded 44 total tackles, six sacks, and one interception in his final collegiate season.

Hook also went undrafted in 2025, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s never appeared in a regular season NFL game, but put together a 107-tackle, two-interception season in his final year at Toledo. The 6’0, 210-pound safety ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine.

Maxen Hook not letting that get by 😤 pic.twitter.com/tunE1KGsHx

— Mike Vallerie (@FF_DirtyMike) January 29, 2025

Miller is yet another 2025 UDFA. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs following the draft. The Maryland product put together a 9.26 RAS including a 4.45-second 40-yard dash. The 6’2, 206-pound safety has never appeared in a regular season matchup, but in his final year at Maryland he put together 39 total tackles and three interceptions.

Glendon Miller 😤 pic.twitter.com/GGhLnvhcaM

— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 15, 2023

The workouts follow the Steelers losing rookie practice squad safety Sebastian Castro to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster on Tuesday. The team appears to be searching for a replacement, even if no immediate signings have been made yet.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ooks-jack-henderson-maxen-hook-glendon-miller
 
Celebrating 10 years of Chris Boswell

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10 years ago today, on October 3, 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a little-known kicker from Rice who had never kicked a field goal in a regular-season game. Throughout the rest of the 2015 season, this kicker went 29-of-32, including going 2-of-2 on kicks of 50+ yards, and kicked the game-winning field goal to propel the Steelers past the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild card round of the playoffs.

After a brief search, the Steelers found their answer at kicker, and Chris Boswell has become not just a staple of the Steelers, but a mainstay in the best kicker in the NFL conversation.

For his career, Boswell has made 88 percent of his field goals, including a league-leading 41 kicks in 2024 en route to his first First-Team All-Pro selection. On top of making 88 percent of his kicks, Boswell has made a staggering 83 percent of field goals from 50+ yards, going 45-of-54, and 36-of-42 since 2021.

Boswell has 10 career game-winning kicks, per the Steelers’ team site, which somehow feels like a low number. If not for Boswell, it’s very possible that the above .500 streak is not a thing, and he has been one of their unquestioned MVPs over his decade-long career in Pittsburgh.

Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!


Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...10-years-of-chris-boswell-pittsburgh-steelers
 
2026 NFL Draft: Quarterback stock watch — WK5

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The college football season is ripping by us. Teams are starting to have their bye weeks, and our overall feel for the class is beginning to shift and take shape. This week, I’ll update our quarterback tiers and share some updated season stat totals for our field of signal callers.

But first…

Riser of the Week​

Dante Moore​

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The result: Oregon 30 — Penn State 24

Game stats: 29-39 (74.4%), 248 yards, 3 TDs, 3 Big Time Throws, 1 Turnover Worthy Plays, 5.9 ADoT, 0 sacks
10 rushes, 35 yards, 3.5 ypc, 1 fumble

Season stats: 100-134 (74.6%), 1,210 yards, 14 TDs, 1 Int, 10 BTT, 2 TWP, 8.6 ADoT, 1 sack

23 rushes, 131 yards, 5.7 YPC, 0 TD, 1 fumble

The floodgates have officially opened for the Dante Moore QB1 discussions. There was no bigger game last weekend in terms of Top-10 opponents squaring off, an insane crowd environment during a Penn State “white out” game, and potential first-round quarterbacks. This summer, when all we had to work off of was a handful of ugly games with UCLA, one of our biggest questions about Moore was how he would handle pressure. Early in the season, he hasn’t faced a ton of it, facing pressure on only 21.3% of his dropbacks, and only one sack on the season. Oregon looked like the better team for most of the night against Penn State, but some wonky outcomes — a missed field goal, a false start on a fourth and short, a scramble at the sticks on fourth down coming up just short — allowed the Nittany Lions to stick around and force overtime.

So how did Moore respond with a hostile home crowd going nuts and a free rusher in his face during double overtime?

Dante Moore man, cold blooded killer in the clutch. pic.twitter.com/ytnIKtqbjN

— Nick Martin (@themicknartin) September 28, 2025

Chills.

I will note that Moore did follow this up with an interception on the two-point conversion that doesn’t show up in his box score, but it’s hard to come away from his performance as anything other than impressed. Penn State’s defense was focused on keeping the lid on Oregon’s passing game for most of the night, and Moore took what the defense gave him.

Moore’s mobility was also on full display in this game. He had nearly as many rushing attempts (10) against Penn State as he did in his previous games (13), and while Moore isn’t the type of quarterback that will generate many explosive runs, he turned a handful of short scrambles on high-leverage downs into first downs. In other instances, he used it to buy time and create opportunities to move the ball downfield.

Here was my other favorite throw on the night.

This is my favorite throw from Oregon QB Dante Moore against Penn State. Scramble drill working with a timer as he’s working towards the sideline, fires across body and puts it on the money for Kenyon Sadiq pic.twitter.com/Bp2Whq9j5Q

— Michael (@MGrecoSports) October 2, 2025

I’ve already heard chatter this week on podcasts and across social media that not only is Moore getting consideration as the best quarterback in college football, but he’s entering the QB1 conversation for the draft. I’ll pump the brakes on that a bit, as this is Moore’s first year as a starter, and analysts like Todd McShay have gone on record saying sources with Moore’s camp entered this season with the intention to go back to school next fall. But if Oregon continues to play this well and some of the other hopefuls in this class falter, it isn’t too crazy to believe the temptation to declare might grow.

Not bad for a guy who received the fewest votes (4) in our summer QB Dating Game series.

I’ll wrap this week’s riser section up with these videos of Moore after the game. For all the poise and cold-bloodedness he showed on the field against Penn State, after the game it was clear how much this all means to him, and how much his teammates and staff want to win for this kid.

What a game, Dante Moore. 👏 pic.twitter.com/0uSweSDAdD

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 28, 2025
Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore filled with emotion after a thrilling OT victory at Penn State @KGWNews | #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/useDPnxeUE

— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) September 28, 2025

Updated Tiers​

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We’re roughly a third of the way through the season, which feels like as good a time as any to update our quarterback tiers. Let’s start with a look at the season totals for our field of quarterback contenders.

QuarterbackTeam RecordComp. %Passsing
Yards
TDsIntsBTTTWPADoTSacksRushing
Yards
YPCRushing TDsFumbles
Cade Klubnik1-359.7%99664539.74882.812
LaNorris Sellers3-266.7%886416310.9141935.112
Garrett Nussmeier4-167.3%1,157731267.67392.610
Arch Manning3-161.3%88893869.831274.952
Drew Allar3-162.8%76362348.85956.801
Fernando Mendoza5-071.8%1,208161529.75852.921
John Mateer4-067.6%1,20963748.542115.051
Dante Moore5-074.6%1,2101411028.611315.701
Carson Beck4-073.2%97273428.13333.710
Jayden Maiava4-170.0%1,5871111149.32774.340
Aidan Chiles3-168.6%868914310.6102257.824
Sawyer Robertson3-263.0%1,7151731278.98585.310
Taylen Green2-362.0%1,398125799.964799.620
Sam Leavitt4-162.4%1,039831188.5123497.651
Nico Iamaleava0-464.8%80143128.592527.212
Joey Aguilar4-164.6%1,465135619.72693.323
Ty Simpson3-169.3%1,138110627.94844.421
Josh Hoover3-166.7%1,242114989.58483.712

Stats alone are not enough to tell the whole story, of course, but they are a piece of the puzzle and they can help contextualize some of the narratives surrounding these passers. We’ll dive further with our new updated tiers below.

Day 1 Tier​

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  • LaNorris Sellers
  • John Mateer
  • Dante Moore
  • Fernando Mendoza
  • Garrett Nussmeier

Oh, how things have changed since this summer. Of our final five finalists from the QB Dating Game series, I’m only convinced that two of them are still flirting with the first round of the 2026 draft.

LaNorris Sellers tops this list, mainly because he has the physical tools that I have a hard time seeing NFL teams pass up. South Carolina as a whole isn’t as good as they were in 2024, and Sellers seems like even more of a one-man show than he did a year ago. There’s no such thing as a draft prospect without flaws, but we’ve seen Caleb Williams get drafted first overall after a down year at USC, and Cam Ward went 1.01 despite questions about his game translating to the NFL. Sellers’ big arm, sack-breaking ability, and powerful running style sure look the part of a quarterback that NFL teams would vault up their boards. While I personally would like Sellers to get one more year of college experience, declaring for the draft might be too tempting in a class that doesn’t have a clear frontrunner ahead of him.

I’ve previously compared Mateer’s playstyle to the backyard stylings of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Patrick Mahomes. Each of those men were first-round selections, and Mayfield and Murray went first overall. If Mateer can return in a few weeks from hand surgery and pick up where he left off, he can stamp his ticket for Day 1 of the draft.

Nussmeier has fallen a bit from where he started the season, but he still has some impressive throws on his tape. LSU’s defense is national championship caliber, so if the Tigers can rebound from their loss to Ole Miss, he should have plenty of big game moments to bolster his resume. Having a father who’s the offensive coordinator for a quarterback-needy team, in the same state to boot, certainly doesn’t hurt either.

We’ve already touched on Moore a bit. He likely would be a first-rounder if the draft were today, but it remains to be seen if he’ll return to school or come out, and there are a lot of challenging games left for him to navigate.

Mendoza is another trendy name that’s been steadily building buzz. Indiana’s offense struggled to put up points against Iowa this past weekend, but managed to come away with the win. Mendoza has a live arm and enough mobility to create behind the line of scrimmage. Indiana has increased his RPO usage and other one-read concepts, so it’ll be tough to answer how well he processes the whole field come draft season. Be that as it may, if he plays to the level he has so far and makes a playoff appearance, I think his first-round status will be assured.

Risers Tier​

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  • Jayden Maiava
  • Carson Beck
  • Ty Simpson
  • Josh Hoover

I wrote about Maiava last week, and he lost a heartbreaker to Illinois, 34-32. If his running back doesn’t fumble on the first drive of the game as the Trojans were approaching the red zone, USC likely wins the game. Alas, that was not the case, and Maiava also threw his first interception of the season. Early in the third quarter, Maiava failed to notice an Illini linebacker ready to undercut an in-breaking route at the sticks and turned it over. I dont’ think Maiava has reached first-round discussion just yet, but I think he still has the opportunity to get there.

I’m not the biggest believer in Carson Beck, but considering his draft prospects were essentially in the mud following last season, this tier makes the most sense for him. Beck is a streaky passer, but he’s led Miami to a 4-0 start and has looked more decisive with the ball so far this season. A big rivalry game against No. 18 Florida State is on tap for him this weekend. Ultimately, I think when Beck is at his best, he’s a classic Round 2 quarterback talent. If Miami makes a deep run and Beck looks good during it, he could sneak his way into the back half of the first round.

Simpson and Hoover are interesting redshirt juniors that I need to see more of.

Simpson has been with Alabama since 2022 and had to bide his time behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. Alabama seemed dead in the water after an opening loss to Florida State, where the effort of some of the Tide’s players was brought into question. The Crimson Tide has come back with a vengeance since — plus Florida State has proven better than was believed at the time — and a lot of that has to do with Simpson’s play, who has yet to turn the ball over.

Hoover is in his third year as a starter and is pacing for several career highs, but is coming off his worst game of the year in a 27-24 loss to Arizona State that saw him throw two interceptions. He’s a bit undersized, and I think he’s a guy that still needs to see his receiver get open more than a guy who anticipates it. That said, I also think he’s trending towards a Day 2 pick on the high end of his range of outcomes, and he’s ripped some NFL throws into tight windows this year.

Just Needs One Team To Fall In Love Tier​

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  • Taylen Green
  • Sawyer Robertson
  • Joey Aguilar

Green has gotten better each year, but he still makes too many risky throws. His coach was just fired in-season, which is never a good omen for a prospect’s draft stock, but there is no denying Green is one of the most dangerous runners in college football. I just don’t see enough polish to warrant a Day 1 passer, but I could see him being a Day 3 pick for a team that wants to see if they can get lucky and develop him.

Robertson continues to put up big yardage and touchdown numbers in Baylor’s Air Raid system, but I’m not sure I see anything beyond a spot starter at the NFL level for him. He’s too inconsistent with his accuracy and can look robotic at times to my eye. That said, some team will want to take a chance with the production and his 6’4 and 220-pound frame.

As for Aguilar, he’s an interesting story. After spending some time in the junior college ranks, he cut his teeth at Appalachian State before becoming the other half of the Tennessee-UCLA transfer saga. He’d committed to UCLA, but when they brought in Nico Iamaleava, Aguilar audibiled and went to Tennessee, where he now leads the SEC in passing. He’s got a good frame and some impressive throws on his tape, but he’s also gotten away with some throws that felt reminiscent to Will Levis. I think he’s got some intriguing traits, but I would be shocked to see him in the first round at this point.

Go Back to School Tier​

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  • Arch Manning
  • Aidan Chiles
  • Sam Leavitt

Of these three, I’m most excited for Chiles. He’s looking more decisive as a passer and runner this year, but he’s still taking too many sacks, and he needs to clean up the fumbles. I would be surprised to seem him declare this year, frankly, but I think he’s trending positively for the 2027 draft.

Manning will have plenty of opportunities to shake off the early struggles that have seen him take a hit to his draft stock. Over the summer, I preached patience with Manning, and all of that still applies. He’s still in one of the better situations for a developing quarterback, and while I think he definitely needs to go back to school, I’m not ready to write him off after just a handful of starts. I always thought the expectations that he’d immediately be the best quarterback in college football were unfair and unrealistic.

Leavitt I’ve soured quite a bit on. Arizona State’s run last season was magical, and I think Leavitt still has some intriguing traits. But he doesn’t look like a player who’s grown this season and is still more impressive as a runner than he is as a passer.

Look Away Tier​

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  • Cade Klubnik
  • Drew Allar
  • Nico Iamaleava

I’m not looking bury any of these guys, but the vibes around all three are the worst they could be at the moment. Klubnik looks like he’s pressing and Clemson is one of the biggest disappointments of the season so far. He’s going to have a hard time getting back into first-round discussions.

Iamaleava and the Bruins look like one of the worst teams in the sport, and have yet to win a game.

Allar has also failed to show any growth in his game. He struggles to anticipate throws to playmakers running away from him, and his athletic limitations show themselves against the schools that have a collection of athletic talent that rivals or exceeds Penn State’s roster. That his team consistently limits his role in their game plans should continue to be a big red flag for NFL evaluators.

Bits and bobs​


Here are some key matchups to watch this weekend:

  • Carson Beck and No. 3 Miami have the game of the week against No. 18 Florida State
  • Arch Manning and No. 9 Texas travel to take on Florida
  • No. 10 Alabama and Ty Simpson take on No. 16 Vanderbilt and are looking to avenge their 2024 upset loss
  • Aidan Chiles and the Spartans take on a feisty Nebraska team


What do you think of these prospects? Have any of them moved up your big board? Let us know in the comments!

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...53/2026-nfl-draft-quarterback-stock-watch-wk5
 
Friday Night Happy Hour: Bye Bye Bye

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Welcome back to BTSC’s Friday night open thread:

  1. The Steelers have an early Week 5 bye. Since the team has a decent-sized list of injuries right now and it’s right after their international game, do you think the bye came at the right time? Or would you have preferred it later in the year?
  2. The Steelers won’t be playing this weekend. What NFL game are you most looking forward to watching in Week 5?
  3. PFF has received some deserved criticism for grading Aaron Rodgers as the worst quarterback in the NFL. Most would agree Rodgers isn’t an MVP-caliber player anymore, but he’s certainly far from the worst. In what tier of NFL quarterbacks would you place the 2025 version of Aaron Rodgers?
  4. If Calvin Austin III misses some games, which Steelers wide receiver should get the biggest boost in snaps as his replacement?
  5. We’ve talked plenty about whether the Ravens or Steelers can win first place in the AFC North. But what about the other two teams in the division? Do you foresee the Burrow-less Bengals or Dillon Gabriel-led Browns getting last place?
  6. Bad Bunny has been announced as the halftime performer for this season’s Super Bowl. Thoughts on the choice? And who would be your ideal Super Bowl halftime show?

Song of the night (Not my usual recommendation; it’s for the bit — but did you know NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick is a Steeler fan?):

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ds/159679/friday-night-happy-hour-bye-bye-bye
 
Is the Steelers’ success this season sustainable?

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The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 3-1 on the season with a 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, flourishing with an efficient offensive performance and key turnovers on defense to become the AFC North’s leader through four weeks.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a vintage performance, completing 18 of 22 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown, while running back Kenneth Gainwell went off with 99 rushing yards and two touchdowns in place of the injured Jaylen Warren.

Defensively, the Steelers did allow 350 passing yards to Carson Wentz, but they shut down the run game, and Minnesota was forced to pass as they were playing from behind for most of the afternoon.

Pittsburgh did keep Minnesota relatively inefficient offensively, while forcing two key interceptions, with the latter resulting in a touchdown drive.

There were some missed opportunities, including a blocked field goal, two field goal tries in the red zone, and a turnover on downs in a goal-to-go situation. But, the Steelers are starting off 3-1 with wins over Minnesota, New England, and the New York Jets.

After four weeks, the biggest question for the Steelers revolves around their defense. Is Sunday’s performance sustainable?

The Steelers have been susceptible to big plays this season, and that was the case late on Sunday, as Jordan Addison had an 81-yard catch, and there were six other passes of 15+ yards.

Minnesota had two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, but it wasn’t enough in the comeback effort as the Steelers had done enough on both sides of the ball for the win.

But, through four weeks, Pittsburgh’s passing defense ranks 29th in passing yards allowed (260.5), 28th in yards per pass attempt (7.6), and 22nd in passer rating allowed (96.0). It’s not like the run defense has been fantastic; the Steelers had been one of the worst in the NFL before this weekend, and now rank 19th (122.0 rush yards allowed per game).

Pittsburgh is getting to the quarterback at a good enough rate. They just need to limit the explosive plays more and have better consistency against the pass, as they showed glimpses of on Sunday.

A big part of that is the pass rush, which got six sacks on Carson Wentz Sunday, including ones from Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton, T.J. Watt, DeShon Elliott, and Patrick Queen. Watt also had an interception near the line of scrimmage in a big game.

Six sacks aren’t sustainable on a weekly basis, but getting consistent pressure should help more with an inconsistent pass defense for the Steelers.

What do you see as the biggest question facing the Steelers right now? What changes do they need to make to win down the stretch? Weigh in below in the comment section.

Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-the-steelers-success-this-season-sustainable
 
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