Offense struggles in first half before Steelers pull out 16-3 victory in Hall of Fame Game

CANTON, Ohio – Good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers that most of their offensive starters didn’t suit up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game.

With backup quarterback Mason Rudolph playing deep into the second quarter and only three anticipated regulars in the lineup, the Steelers were shut out for the first half of their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at Tom Benson Stadium.

Former Washington first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins directed short field goal and touchdown drives in the second half, and the Steelers opened the preseason with a 16-3 victory.

Rudolph played the first three series and completed 6 of 9 passes for 84 yards. He also lost a fumble.

Haskins replaced Rudolph with 4:03 left in the first half and played four series before Joshua Dobbs entered with 12:01 remaining in the game. Haskins completed 8 of 13 passes for 54 yards, and Dobbs threw a 5-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

“Overall, we’ve got to be better,” Rudolph said. “We’ve got to finish drives, put more points on the board, but I thought the overall quality of work was where we wanted it to be.”

Rudolph entered camp as the No. 2 quarterback, but Haskins is trying to wrest away the job.

“Keep watching,” coach Mike Tomlin said about the competition.

Haskins directed a five-play, 33-yard touchdown drive on the Steelers’ first possession of the second half, with Kalen Ballage scoring on a 4-yard run for a 6-3 lead. The drive was set up by Matthew Sexton’s 36-yard punt return, and Haskins got it going with a 15-yard completion to tight end Kevin Rader.

“I liked his demeanor,” Tomlin said of Haskins. “He was a really good communicator. He was present and cerebral the way you like the quarterback position to be. But there is so much ball ahead of him and the others.”

Sam Sloman’s 49-yard field goal — he missed the extra point after the Ballage score — made it 9-3 with 5:15 left in the third quarter. That drive was set up by Donovan Stiner’s 17-yard interception return to the Dallas 44.

Dobbs completed 4 of 6 attempts for 37 yards and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Simmons with 8:44 left in the game.

Rookie Najee Harris started at running back and gained 22 yards on seven attempts while playing three series.

The only regulars to start on offense were Harris and wide receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, who walked off with an injury after a 45-yard reception. Rookie Kendrick Green started at center, and J.C. Hassenauer worked with the second and third teamers.

On defense, the Steelers started three regulars: cornerback Cam Sutton, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and inside linebacker Robert Spillane. Antoine Brooks Jr. got the nod at slot corner.

Highsmith and Sutton played two series before departing. Highsmith had a sack on the Cowboys’ opening possession. Spillane exited after the third series.

The Cowboys outgained the Steelers, 217 yards to 123 in the half, yet only took a 3-0 lead into intermission.

Rudolph’s first series ended with his fumble at the Steelers 48. Claypool went in motion, and Rudolph collided with the wide receiver as he tried to make the exchange. Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons recovered for the Cowboys.

“I have to do a better job of getting it in his sweet spot,” Rudolph said.

Before the drive self-destructed, Rudolph completed 3 of 3 passes for 21 yards. Harris got his first pro carry on the second play, a 6-yard gain.

The defense limited the Cowboys to a 29-yard field goal following an 11-play drive. Highsmith used a nice spin move to get around the left defensive end and sack Garrett Gilbert for a 7-yard loss. On third down, rookie Tre Norwood, starting at safety, had a pass breakup, and the Cowboys had to settle for three points.

On the Steelers’ second series, Harris had successive runs of 5 and 6 yards. On a second-and-4, Harris was held to 1 yard, and Rudolph’s pass to Claypool ticked off the wide receiver’s hands for a drop.

Rookie punter Pressley Harvin III also impressed in his debut. He placed each of his first three punts inside the 20, including one that landed and was downed at the 1. His fourth punt resulted in a muffed return and a fumble recovery for the Steelers.

Harvin had a 45.5-yard net average on his four attempts.

“Pressley did some nice things,” Tomlin said. “I thought they all did some nice things.”

Sexton had the 36-yard return on his only try, Anthony Johnson had a fumble recovery on special teams, and Norwood blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt.

On defense, the Steelers had four sacks, nine quarterback hits, an interception by Stiner, and Justin Layne forced a fumble that Brooks recovered.

“I liked the enthusiasm and energy the guys played with,” Tomlin said. “We were able to carry energy into the stadium.”