Final Word: Keys for Steelers Without Heyward, Johnson

The 2023 Pittsburgh football season has not gotten off to a hot start, as the Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-1, with what feels like a significant early season game on the horizon against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night that will be undertaken without stars Cam Heyward and Diontae Johnson.

The Steelers will need young players at both positions to step up in order to be able to slow down Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland rushing attack, and also get the offense going after a disastrous start against a Browns unit that shut down the Cincinnati Bengals in Week. 1.

Alan Saunders joined Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Locked On Steelers, former NFL GM Doug Whaley and Mike DeFabo of The Athletic to break down how the Steelers can overcome their injuries and their slow start.

The panel also discussed Pitt’s Backyard Brawl loss to West Virginia on Saturday, and Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi’s insistence that he will not make a change at quarterback, despite the struggles of starter Phil Jurkovec.