In addition to QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin listed 14 other veterans who will not play in the team’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.
Among the 15 veterans who won’t play Saturday night against the Jaguars, according to Tomlin, are defensive end Cameron Heyward and OLB T.J. Watt. Tomlin also listed the likes of cornerbacks Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey (who also missed practice this week with an injury) as not playing. Guard Isaac Seumalo will not play either.
“I’ve identified some guys that won’t be playing in this game this week and it has nothing to do with injury,” Tomlin said, according to video via the Steelers’ YouTube page. “They need less runway to take off, to be quite honest with you, because of their experience and where they are in their careers. Oftentimes I preserve them through this process while providing more opportunity for those that need more preparation or more opportunity to display their talents and so forth.”
Here is the full list of 15 players that Tomlin announced won’t play Saturday night in Jacksonville, which are not injury-related:
-QB Aaron Rodgers
-RB Jaylen Warren
-WR DK Metcalf
-TE Jonnu Smith
-TE Pat Freiermuth
-LG Isaac Seumalo
-DL Cameron Heyward
-OLB T.J. Watt
-OLB Nick Herbig
-ILB Patrick Queen
-CB Darius Slay
-CB Joey Porter Jr.
-DB Jalen Ramsey
-S DeShon Elliott
-K Chris Boswell
Outside of those 15 veterans that won’t play, Tomlin listed four players who won’t play due to injury. That includes OLB Alex Highsmith, who is battling a groin injury, rookie cornerback Donte Kent, who was in a walking boot for a few days earlier in the week before coming out of the boot Wednesday, wide receiver Calvin Austin III, and cornerback Cory Trice Jr.
Austin has missed the last few practices with an undisclosed injury, while Trice was injured during the Friday Night Lights practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, going down with a hamstring injury.
Though Tomlin stated Wednesday after practice that Austin would “perk up” soon, the Steelers are taking it slow with him. Same for Trice and Highsmith. As for Kent, it’s a tough blow for him, missing his first preseason game as a rookie seventh-round pick. The matchup against the Jaguars was a chance for him to make an impact right away and push for a roster spot.
The Steelers and Jaguars kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday night at EverBank Stadium.
