Steelers announce dates, times for preseason games

Chris Adamski
Thursday, May 14, 2020 10:32 a.m. | Thursday, May 14, 2020 10:32 a.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talks with New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell before a game in December, as Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert looks on. The Steelers are scheduled to visit MetLife Stadium during Preseason Week 3 this August. It is possible they face Bell in that game.

The NFL’s two all-time leading passers are scheduled to be at Heinz Field in August. Not that they are expected to play, though — if the games are played at all.

The Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday announced the dates and times for their full preseason schedule. The two annual home games scheduled for 2020 are against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, teams whose respective starting quarterbacks are future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

The Tampa Bay preseason game in Pittsburgh is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Aug. 14. The Saints-Steelers preseason game previously was announced for 8 p.m. the following Sunday, Aug. 23.

Tom Brady is slated be coming to #Pittsburgh with the @Buccaneers https://t.co/9MZRTUIFj3

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The Steelers’ two road preseason games complete the preseason schedule with weeknight games scheduled for 7:30 p.m. kickoffs: Friday, Aug. 28, at the New York Jets and Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Carolina Panthers.

It was announced early in the offseason that the Steelers would play the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.

The status of all preseason games is in question as the world deals with the coronavirus pandemic. NFL team facilities remain off-limits to players and teams, which are currently organized team activities virtually.

The Jets game falls on preseason Week 3, the traditional game in which a team’s veteran starters play the most. This provides possible intrigue because it could be the return of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to game action for the first time since elbow surgery last September. Former Steelers All Pro running back Le’Veon Bell also could suit up against the Steelers.

If the games are played, the matchups with the Cowboys (NBC) and Saints (Fox) are intended for a national broadcast audience. The other three games will be produced and broadcast on CBS in Pittsburgh.

The full Steelers’ regular-season schedule was announced last week.

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.