5 things to watch in the Steelers preseason opener against the Packers

Mike McCarthy Faces His Past as Steelers Open Preseason Against Green Bay

The opening night of the NFL preseason brings a storied reunion to Acrisure Stadium as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Green Bay Packers. For Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, the matchup carries deep personal history. That championship run earned him a lasting namesake in Green Bay, where Mike McCarthy Way runs beside Ray Nitschke Field near the team’s training facility, as reported by the Post Gazette.

Despite the sentimental ties to his former franchise, McCarthy has focused his attention squarely on the immediate flaws appearing in Steelers training camp rather than past achievements. Our history there is obviously long and the success we had there, McCarthy said, according to the Post Gazette. You get to spots like this, the personal relationships or the people you think about, … the professional connection to Green Bay, that’s part of my life. But I’m more worried about our pre-snap penalties right now, to be honest with you.

“Our history there is obviously long and the success we had there, You get to spots like this, the personal relationships or the people you think about, … the professional connection to Green Bay, that’s part of my life. But I’m more worried about our pre-snap penalties right now, to be honest with you.”

Mike McCarthy, Steelers head coach

On the opposing sideline, the Packers arrive in Pittsburgh carrying their own set of expectations and pressures.

Quarterback Watch and Roster Battles in Pittsburgh

All eyes in Pittsburgh center on the quarterback position and the deployment of Aaron Rodgers. According to cbsnews.com, no official decision has been announced regarding whether Rodgers will take the field against his former team, though Rodgers told The Athletic that McCarthy expressed a desire for him to play more preseason snaps than initially planned. Young backup quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar are also expected to see playing time alongside veteran backup Mason Rudolph.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Roman Wilson has established himself comfortably alongside Rodgers during training camp workouts, pulling ahead in the competition for the No. 3 receiver role, according to the Post Gazette. Conversely, rookie second-round draft pick Germie Bernard faces a steeper learning curve adjusting to the mental demands of playing within Rodgers’ offense.

“I think it’s 90% mental. I think even the fastest, most athletic guys, if you don’t know what you’re doing completely, you’re going to play slower.”

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers quarterback

In the trenches, offensive linemen Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook are competing for full-time starting roles on the right side of the line. Cook currently tops the depth chart ahead of Broderick Jones and rookie Max Iheanachor, attempting to follow an undrafted path to the starting lineup similar to former Steelers fixtures Ramon Foster, Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler and Chris Hubbard.

Kicker Challenges and Defensive Shuffling for Green Bay

The Packers face distinct environmental hurdles at Acrisure Stadium, particularly for rookie kicker Trey Smack. According to usatoday.com, the south end of the stadium experiences brutal and unpredictable airflow where the three local rivers converge. Opposing kickers struggled immensely at the venue last season, converting just 77% of their attempts.

Defensively, the Packers must navigate the early-season absence of Micah Parsons, creating an intense positional battle on the edge in Jonathan Gannon’s defense. While Lukas Van Ness anchors one spot, players including Barryn Sorrell, rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton, Brenton Cox Jr., Collin Oliver, and Arron Mosby are vying for snaps during the preseason games, as detailed by usatoday.com. Additionally, free-agent cornerback Benjamin St-Juste has logged first-team repetitions ahead of Keisean Nixon, presenting a physical 6-foot-3 presence that could factor heavily against top division targets.