PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Steelers won't play their most experienced and veteran players for Thursday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers , as head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out Aaron Rodgers , DK Metcalf , T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward .
When you go down the list of the Steelers' oldest and most accomplished players, those four make sense to allow so not participate in the preseason. There are two notable additions, though, as you could easily include cornerbacks Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey in that list, too.
Tomlin said he wants to see them work together before the start of the season
"There's a collective component, a coordination component, a communication component to what they do and if you get an opportunity to get some snaps versus some really capable people in a stadium, we'd appreciate it."
Of course, Tomlin has also seen his top defensive backs together against someone's top opposition. Joey Porter Jr. was limited, but Elliott, Ramsey, Slay and Juan Thornhill all played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
And while there were certainly wins and losses throughout the day for the Steelers in that practice, the secondary didn't have its best day. Mike Evans was un-coverable, and Emeka Egbuka also gave the Steelers fits.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in joint practice on Aug. 15, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Then against the Bucs in the preseason game on Saturday, Payton Wilson and Brandin Echols were both beaten in the red zone by Bucky Irving and Egbuka.
Tomlin said that the joint practice can be a substitute for preseason work. For Rodgers, Metcalf and some others, it would appear that will be the case.
"Joint practices are elevated work," Tomlin said. "And so, in a lot of instances, that's substitute for preseason games. People play their experienced players. It's good on good. It was really a good day's work versus the Bucs on that front."
But we've seen many times over the years in the preseason that Tomlin would send a unit that is not performing up to his standards back out there for more work. Tomlin didn't come right out and say it, but that's the equivalent of what he's doing here.
He has rightfully high expectations for this secondary after the additions of Chuck Clark , Ramsey, Slay and Thornhill to the mix this offseason, and he's making it clear that it hasn't necessarily lived up to those expectations in his eyes just yet.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Saunders: Is Mike Tomlin Sending a Message to Potentially Elite Steelers Secondary?
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