Stock up, stock down after Steelers fall to 0-3 to complete preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ official preseason record is as follows: zero wins (up), three losses (down). But those results are meaningless. Here are some more specific areas that emerged up or down after Saturday’s 24-17 loss at the Detroit Lions that concluded the exhibition schedule:

STOCK UP

Russell Wilson

Wilson finally showed what he could do leading this offense (to use Mike Tomlin parlance) “in the stadium.” In the grand scheme, Wilson’s five snaps and two pass attempts don’t prove much of anything in terms of the 13-year veteran’s capabilities as the Steelers’ starting quarterback.

But it sure beats the alternative as the Steelers embark on a final fortnight before the regular season starts. A few more score-less possessions littered with punts and sacks wouldn’t have allowed anyone involved with the offense to feel much at ease headed into September.

Everyone from Tomlin to new coordinator Arthur Smith to star receiver George Pickens (who caught both of Wilson’s passes) can breathe a figurative sigh of relief now that the pressure of a punchless preseason is behind them.

Cordarrelle Patterson

Considering Patterson has not taken a live practice rep at the one duty he most specializes in (kickoff returns), there’d been whispers he could end up being a surprise cut. The 33-year-old showed Saturday, though, that not only is he not going anywhere, he might just be a significant part of the offense.

Patterson played four snaps in Detroit. He was given the ball on three of them. One was a 31-yard touchdown run that was both the Steelers’ longest carry and the first-team offense’s first score of the preseason.

Yeah, Patterson’s roster spot is secure. Smith seems to have big plans for him.

Dez Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick probably will have to sweat it out until Tuesday. But after Saturday, the smart money is on him being part of the Steelers’ initial 53-man active roster for the regular season.

He had a 59-yard catch from Kyle Allen that was the Steelers’ longest reception of the preseason. Just as importantly, Fitzpatrick had a special-teams tackle.

Fitzpatrick also lined up offensively the outside and in the slot. All the way around, he seemed to pass enough tests to serve as the Steelers’ No. 5 or No. 6 WR this season, filling the old Miles Boykin role as a special-teamer.

STOCK DOWN

Justin Fields

Fields will begin the season as a backup, and that was both a fait accompli and something that there is no shame in. But Saturday was yet another example of why, for all of Fields’ talents and strengths, he has not been able to keep a starting gig in an NFL.

Fields was sacked twice in six dropbacks Saturday, and he again was charged with a fumble. Many will blame the offensive line, both for the sacks and for the snap that led to the fumble. Fine. But in regards to the sacks, modern football analytics will tell you that they are as much the fault of the quarterback as they are the linemen.

Fields was sacked five times among 32 preseason dropbacks. This after getting sacked 135 times in 38 starts for the Chicago Bears. It’s a trend.

So is ball security. Fields fumbled at least one during each preseason game (four overall). He led the NFL in fumbles over the 2022-23 seasons with 26.

Again, it’s a trend. Blame the centers, blame the blockers, blame the scheme. But it keeps happening. And until it gets fixed, Fields will keep having trouble earning status as a franchise QB.

The nickels

Nine organized team activities sessions. Three mandatory minicamp practices. Twenty training-camp practices. Three preseason games. Thirty-four roster moves of varying types since the draft, including 13 that in one way or another involved a defensive back …

… and through it all, clarity yet lacks in regards to who will man the nickel/slot position for the regular-season opener.

Saturday did little to clear things up. Thomas Graham Jr. started in Detroit. He was OK. Rookie Beanie Bishop played the second half. He, too, was adequate.

But did either stand out enough to seize the job? Probably not.

Bishop seems to have fallen out of the great favor he enjoyed over much of the summer as the darling of the undrafted free agent class. Graham hasn’t played a regular-season game since 2022.

Someone will be lined up across from the Atlanta Falcons’ slot receiver come Sept. 8. It’s just no certainty that player is currently on the roster.

Ryan Watts injury

For a sixth-round pick, Ryan Watts had a solid training camp and preseason. His size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) opens eyes. He seems a willing learner. He’s shown positional flexibility on defense, and appeared to be earning the trust of coordinator Danny Smith on special teams.

But during what would be the final meaningful (non-kneeldown) play of the 2024 Steelers preseason, Watts went down with an injury. The hope is it’s not significant and won’t affect Watts’ status. But no one wants to see an injury that late in the preseason.

Cory Trice — who seemingly has earned the No. 3 cornerback gig — and rookie outside linebacker Julius Welschof also had to leave Saturday’s game because of injury.