Many have claimed that the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers are set up for as good of a run as any post-Roethlisberger team. However, there are three key points of concern with the squad.
Here’s a look at the three biggest reasons the team will fall below Mike Tomlin’s annually over .500 win percentage.
1. Russell Wilson erosion continues
Reports have already hit the internet of Russell Wilson missing time with the Steelers due to injury in training camp. It has been reported by Mark Kaboly on Twitter/X that Wilson suffered a calf injury. As such, Justin Fields has taken over the first-team snaps for now.
Wilson is day-to-day, but he has already been given the starting job.
As such, the stage is set for a difficult early part of the season for the Steelers. If they fall into a hole early, it will be difficult to climb out with Fields.
2. TJ Watt will be 30
The Steelers’ biggest star has been a well-known name for a few years now. However, once players enter into the elite tier on the defensive side of the ball, they often hit their decline soon after. T.J. Watt turns 30 in October, so it will only be a matter of time until he loses a step.
It could happen in a season or two, or it could happen this season. If it does, Pittsburgh doesn’t have another star pass rusher that can match Watt’s roughly 20-sack production. This would let opposing quarterbacks pick apart the Steelers’ defense much more easily with more time in the pocket. In turn, it would force Wilson or Fields into slinging the rock at a much higher clip, which could cause trouble.
3. Wide receiver depth issues
The wide receiver room has a potentially budding star in George Pickens. However, the Steelers also have massive questions at the position.
Pittsburgh’s second-string receiver currently is set up to be Van Jefferson, per ESPN’s depth chart.
Jefferson hasn’t reached 150 yards in a season since 2022. Quez Watkins has a speedy gear that might elevate him on the depth chart, but he also has little experience as a top-two receiver on a team.
The higher a receiver is on their depth chart, the more difficult cornerbacks they face. As such, any elevation of a wide receiver could look good on the chart when speaking in hypotheticals, but one won’t know the extent of their abilities until the regular season. This could set the Steelers up for a sluggish offensive start.
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