Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.