Steelers Visit Buccaneers: Rookie Daniels Gets Third Start — SkimNews
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- Jalen Daniels will make his third career start for Tampa Bay against Pittsburgh on Sunday with Baker Mayfield still sidelined, coming off a 76% completion rate (189 yards, 1 TD) in last week's prime-time upset of Dallas.
- Jaylen Warren starred in Pittsburgh's 34-22 win over the Colts, becoming the first player since Herschel Walker in 1986 to record a 50-yard TD run and an 80-yard TD reception in the same game, and leads the Steelers in both rushing and receiving at 5.9 yards per carry.
- Tampa Bay's run defense ranks second in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (364), rushing touchdowns allowed (2), and yards per carry allowed (3.3), setting up the central matchup of the game against Pittsburgh's Warren-led ground attack.
- The Steelers' receiving group is severely depleted: Michael Pittman (foot), Roman Wilson (finger), and Ben Skowronek (calf) are out, while DK Metcalf is questionable after missing Friday's practice with an illness.
- Danny Smith, Pittsburgh's special teams coach for the previous 13 seasons, joined Tampa Bay's staff after Mike Tomlin stepped down in January — a familiar face who could exploit a Steelers unit whose kickoff returners average 22.7 yards (over three below league average) and where former Pro Bowler Chris Boswell has already missed three field goals this season.
- Tampa Bay's Week 5 turnaround was powered by Bucky Irving's career-high 165 rushing yards and three forced turnovers in a 24-16 prime-time win over the Cowboys, snapping a four-game losing streak.
- The prediction: Steelers 19, Buccaneers 13, with new defensive play-caller Patrick Graham expected to deploy Pittsburgh's elite edge-rusher rotation of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer against the rookie quarterback.
Why it matters: With Baker Mayfield still out, Tampa Bay's playoff hopes now hinge on an undrafted rookie navigating Pittsburgh's four-deep edge-rusher rotation, while the Steelers' depleted receiving corps — three wideouts out, Metcalf questionable — forces even heavier reliance on Jaylen Warren against a Buccaneers defense allowing just 3.3 yards per carry.
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