NFL Player News

Wetjen caught one of two targets for seven yards, gained 17 yards on his only kickoff return and added 61 yards and a touchdown on four punt returns in Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to the Bills.

The 2026 fourth-round pick took advantage of Buffalo being forced to punt out its end zone in the fourth quarter, catching the ball on the Bills' side of midfield, surviving some initial contact and then reversing course to jet down the left sideline to the house. Wetjen returned six kicks for TDs in three seasons at Iowa, but he doesn't offer much value on offense, so it remains to be seen whether the Steelers will carry the return specialist on the Week 1 roster.

Heidenreich carried the ball nine times for 35 yards and a touchdown while adding 47 yards on two kickoff returns during Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to Buffalo.

The rookie seventh-round pick showed some of his versatility by making a positive impression on special teams while also scoring Pittsburgh's only rushing TD of the night, taking a pitch from Drew Allar and churning his way through traffic from nine yards out in the third quarter. Heidenreich is fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster, but he curiously didn't catch a pass in the preseason despite that being his main strength in college, making it tough to evaluate his chances of sticking around behind the clear top backfield duo of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle.

Johnson carried the ball five times for 11 yards in Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to the Bills.

It's not an encouraging sign for the 2025 third-round pick that he was the fourth running back into the game for the Steelers, as Johnson didn't get his first touch until the second half, after Lew Nichols, Eli Heidenreich and Travis Homer has all mixed into the backfield. Johnson is coming off a disappointing rookie campaign in which he managed just 69 rushing yards in 10 regular-season contests, and he could be on the roster bubble.

Bernard caught one of two targets for a 13-yard touchdown in Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to the Bills.

The Steelers rested their starters and key personnel, but Bernard played the first quarter and connected with Will Howard (head) on a one-play scoring drive after Buffalo's Ray Davis muffed a punt. Bernard's usage Thursday would seem to suggest he'll begin the season No. 4 on the wide receiver depth chart behind DK Metcalf (undisclosed), Michael Pittman (hamstring) and Roman Wilson, but the 2026 second-round pick could find himself in a key role early if either of the injured veterans ahead of him wind up not being ready for Week 1.

Bennett didn't play in the Rams' 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers on Thursday.

The 2023 fourth-round pick got an extensive audition in Saturday's preseason win over the Saints, throwing for 181 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. Head coach Sean McVay wanted to give Bennett's competition for the No. 2 quarterback role, rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson, his own extended look Thursday, and Bennett therefore got the night off. The job battle between the two is reportedly still unsettled, and Simpson's strong play Thursday (129 total yards, one pass TD) likely makes McVay's imminent decision that much harder.

Allar completed nine of 18 passes for 88 yards without a touchdown or interception in Thursday's 28-27 preseason loss to the Bills.

Will Howard (head) played the entire first half and Allar the second, with both Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph getting the night off, but neither young quarterback did much to distinguish themselves in the battle for the No. 3 spot. Howard was evaluated for a potential concussion after the game, which could be enough to tip the scales in Allar's favor, although the Steelers always seemed likely to find a way to keep all four QBs on the roster. If Allar does make the cut, the 2026 third-round pick would need injuries ahead of him to see the field in a meaningful way as a rookie.

Mevis made two field-goal attempts from 27 yards out and converted both PATs in the Rams' 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers on Thursday.

Mevis put a bow on his perfect preseason with his four kicks Thursday. The second-year kicker went 6-for-6 on field-goal attempts and 8-for-8 point-after tries across three exhibitions, affording him no shortage of momentum heading into a Week 1 matchup against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Dicker is "working through something," but head coach Jim Harbaugh is not concerned about his status, according to Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com.

Dicker went 1-of-2 on field goals and made his lone extra-point attempt in Thursday's preseason finale, but he apparently was not 100 percent during the game, with Harbaugh noting punter JK Scott would have attempted a field goal at the end of the game had an opportunity arose. Dicker's status is left uncertain for the time being, but as things stand it appears more likely than not he will be ready for what could be a high-scoring Week 1 matchup with the Cardinals.

Connors rushed 18 times for 69 yards and brought in all three targets for 24 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers on Thursday.

Connors led the Rams in rush attempts and rushing yards on the night, as the undrafted rookie got an extended look in the wake of the trade of fellow back Jarquez Hunter to the Dolphins earlier Thursday. Connors rushed 26 times for 96 yards and added a 7-53-3 receiving line over three preseason games, with his latest trip to the end zone being an eight-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. Connors seemingly has a solid chance of sticking on the 53-man roster as the No. 3 running back, given his versatility and body of work this summer.

Klare brought in one of two targets for six yards in the Rams' 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers on Thursday.

The rookie second-round pick was much less active than during his first two preseason games, when he recorded a combined 11-59-0 line on 14 targets. There's no denying the fact Klare did make a very positive initial impression, but he's still likely slated to open the season no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart behind Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson (soreness).