Steelers vs. Jets: Preseason Week 2 open thread

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 13: Drew Allar #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Steelers will take the field for their second preseason game of 2026 on Friday night. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. EST, with Pittsburgh hosting the New York Jets.

Like every Steelers preseason game this year, the game will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network and NFL+, as well as locally on KDKA-TV (CBS). You can view the full list of viewing and listening options here on Steelers.com.

All eyes for the Steelers will be on the two young signal callers suiting up tonight. Mike McCarthy revealed earlier this week that Will Howard will get the start at quarterback, with rookie Drew Allar set to sub in at some point. Whether Howard gets the entire first half, or if Allar will get an even more extended look against New York, remains to be seen. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph will not play in this one, giving the youngsters a real opportunity to showcase where they are in their development.

SNY TV's Connor Hughes reported Thursday that Geno Smith will start at quarterback for the Jets.

Some other notable storylines and players to follow include:

• Will the offensive line look sharper this week after a shaky debut last week? Will Spencer Anderson lock down the right guard role, or will someone else like newcomer Brock Hoffman make a case to start? And with some late camp buzz around former first-round pick Broderick Jones, can he make a push to start?
• Will 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson see more carries and snaps this week? If not, that seemingly indicates his time in Pittsburgh may be coming to an abrupt end.
• Does Roman Wilson translate any of his camp buzz to on-field production? And how will rookie Germie Bernard look after an impressive debut?
• Will rookie defenders Gabe Rubio and Robert Spears-Jennings improve on their solid debuts from a week ago?
• With a plethora of players who thrive in the box and near the line of scrimmage, can any safety set themselves apart in coverage, especially in the deep post?

Make sure to stay caught up on the latest Steelers news here at BTSC this preseason:

• Make-or-break position battles to watch in Steelers' preseason game against the Jets
• Teams interested in Joey Porter Jr. trade
• Three Rivers Report: Pittsburgh not entertaining calls on Joey Porter Jr trade
• Andy Weidl emphasizes importance of building the trenches
• Steelers get good news on DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr
• Dolphins named team to watch for Steelers QB trade