Steelers open preseason with 28-9 victory over Packers; PFF grades released
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-9 on Thursday, marking the start of their preseason schedule. Statistical analysis service Pro Football Focus has since released performance grades for players on both sides of the ball.
The Pittsburgh Steelers commenced their preseason campaign on Thursday with a decisive 28-9 victory against the Green Bay Packers. The win serves as the opening fixture for the team’s pre-season schedule, providing early evaluation opportunities for the coaching staff and players ahead of the regular season.
Following the match, Pro Football Focus (PFF) published its performance grades for the Steelers, offering a statistical breakdown of player contributions. The analysis identifies the highest-rated performers on both offence and defence, alongside those who received the lowest marks in the contest.
On the offensive side, tight end Robert Tonyan led the pack with a grade of 93.5. He was followed by wide receiver Kaden Wetjen at 88.0, quarterback Mason Rudolph at 87.3, and quarterback Will Howard at 86.5. Wide receiver Ben Skowronek also received a strong rating of 83.4.
The defensive unit saw cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. as the top performer with a grade of 90.6. Linebacker Malik Harrison followed closely with 89.9, while defensive end Anthony Goodlow recorded 86.9. Cornerbacks D'Shawn Jamison and Doneiko Slaughter rounded out the highest-rated defenders with grades of 77.9 and 77.8 respectively.
Conversely, the lowest-rated offensive players included centre Greg Crippen at 49.8, running back Eli Heidenreich at 49.4, and fullback Riley Nowakowski at 47.8. Offensive tackle Troy Fautanu received a grade of 44.4, and tight end Jaheim Bell was rated at 42.3.
Defensive performance issues were highlighted by linebacker Nick Herbig, who received a grade of 54.3. Linebacker Cole Holcomb was rated at 53.4, while cornerback Daylen Everett came in at 52.3. Defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Kevin Jobity Jr. received the lowest defensive grades at 51.7 and 51.2 respectively.
The data from Pro Football Focus provides a quantitative snapshot of the opening game, though such statistical assessments are subject to interpretation and may not fully reflect regular-season outcomes. The Steelers will look to build on this preseason start as they prepare for the upcoming competitive schedule.
