FINAL: Steelers 18, Titans 6
FOURTH QUARTER
5:17:The Titans add another short field goal from Ryan Succop after a nine-play, 73-yard drive.
THIRD QUARTER
4:06 Dobbs’ second drive went seven plays, 55 yards and Matthew Wright hit a 31-yard field goal.
6:27: Diontae Spencer continues to make splash plays with his legs with the ball in his hand. He just took a reverse 29 yards off the right side. But if he’s going to make the team as a wide receiver, he needs to make some catches, too.
10:20: Josh Dobbs in at quarterback for the first drive of the second half.
11:03: Tuzar Skipper continues to make a push for a roster spot with splash plays, including a sack/fumble of Titans third-stringer (and former Toledo teammate) Logan Woodside.
HALFTIME LEADERS
Rudolph 6-9, 75 yards, touchdown
Tannehill 6-9, 62 yards
Conner 5 carries, 41 yards
Jeremy McNichols 9 carries, 43 yards
Washington 2 targets, 1 catch, 41 yards, touchdown
Corey Davis 2 targets, 1 catch, 25 yards
SECOND QUARTER
2:57 Well, it was not the final drive for the first-team Steelers defense, and they suffered an injury on this one. Sean Davis limps off, holding his left quad.
Upon reply, looked like it might have been lower on the leg. He’s heading to the locker room, and is probably done, either way.
5:41 Kam Kelly, who started the game in the nickel package, forces a fumble on what was likely the final series for the first-team defense. Looks like he has a job.
8:00 The first turnover of the preseason for Rudolph is a rare miscommunication between him and Washington.
10:41 Artie Burns still working as a punt gunner. Have to think his job (and a game day helmet) are pretty obviously secure at this point.
12:13 Steelers’ second-team offensive line is in the game: Zach Banner, Derwin Gray, B.J. Finney, Fred Johnson and Chukwuma Okorafor.
13:27 Titans got a couple of nice gains after a long kickoff return set them up with good field position, but were forced to settle for a chip-shot field goal.
FIRST QUARTER
1:05: A couple of guys that have been battling significant injuries just checked in at linebacker for the Steelers: Vince Williams (hamstring) and Sutton Smith (abdomen).
1:52 Touchdown, Steelers: Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Rudolph to James Washington. The former Oklahoma State duo struck deep for a 41-yard touchdown on a post route. Just like they used to draw it up in Stillwater.
Extra point is good.
2:37: Mason Rudolph is the second quarterback into the game for the Steelers.
Roethlisberger’s final numbers: 8 of 13, 63 yards, touchdown.
3:10: Tuitt and Bud Dupree combine to crunch Tannehill for another sack. Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern is the only guy in blue having a good night so far.
4:25: Ryan Tannehill checks in at quarterback for Marcus Mariota, who finishes a ghastly 0 for 3 with a sack for a safety.
4:31 Touchdown, Steelers: What a drive for Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster. They connected three times, including once on a key third down and finally for a 17-yard touchdown as Smith-Schuster ate up cornerback LeShaun Sims in one-on-one coverage.
Jaylen Samuels tripped on the 2-point conversation attempt.
9:12 Safety, Steelers: After a fantastic Jordan Berry punt forced Tennessee to start at its own 4-yard line, Stephon Tuitt sacked Marcus Mariota in the end zone on first down for a safety.
10:53: Ryan Swtizer started on offense and has been on both the first-team kickoff and punt return units. Very good sign for him.
12:14: Steelers defensive starters:
DL Stephon Tuitt
DL Cameron Heyward
LOLB T.J. Watt
LILB Mark Barron
RILB Devin Bush
ROLB Bud Dupree
LCB Artie Burns
FS Sean Davis
SS Terrell Edmunds
RCB Steven Nelson
NB Kameron Kelly
15:00: Steelers offensive starters:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
RB James Conner
WR Donte Moncrief
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
WR Ryan Switzer
TE Vance McDonald
LT Alejandro Villanueva
LG Ramon Foster
C Maurkice Pouncey
RG David DeCastro
RT Matt Feiler
PREGAME NOTES
7:30 p.m. Steelers will have at least four inactive players, according to Steelers.com reporter Missi Matthews: OLB Anthony Chickillo (chest), CB Joe Haden (foot contusion), WR Diontae Johnson (undisclosed), RB Benny Snell (groin).
GAMEDAY INFO
Sunday, August 25, 8:00 p.m.
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
SN Coverage: Alan Saunders
TV/Radio: WPXI-TV (Pittsburgh) and NBC (Nationally), Steelers Radio Network (102.5 WDVE-FM)
FORECAST
Thunderstorms, 74 degrees at kickoff.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start and will likely make his only appearance of the 2019 preseason.
• We should know a lot more about the battle for positioning amongst the Steelers wide receivers after this game. JuJu Smith-Schuster will work with Roethlisberger’s first unit, that much is assured. But how much Diontae Johnson, Donte Moncrief, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer and James Washington work with the first unit will be telling.
• Devin Bush should return to the field after being held out as a precaution during the Steelers’ Week 2 victory over Kansas City, and with the first teams expected to get more playing time and Vince Williams still bothered by a hamstring issue, Bush could see his most extensive playing time to date.
• As the “dress rehearsal” preseason game, the Steelers will also run out starting special teams units. If players on the roster fringe like Marcus Allen, Ulysees Gilbert and Tuzar Skipper see playing time on special teams in the first half, it’s a good sign for their 53-man roster odds.
INJURY UPDATES
OUT: OLB Ola Adeniyi, who had surgery on a torn meniscus on last Friday and is expected to miss another one to two weeks, at least.
UNKNOWN: OLB Anthony Chickillo (chest), CB Joe Haden (foot contusion), RG David DeCastro (soreness), C Maurkice Pouncey (undisclosed), TE Christian Scotland-Williamson (upper body), OLB Sutton Smith (abdomen), RB Benny Snell (groin), ILB Vince Williams (hamstring).
EXPECTED TO PLAY: ILB Devin Bush (undisclosed), TE Zach Gentry (upper body)
MORE ON TENNESSEE
<https://titansized.com/2019/08/24/money-breakdown-taylor-lewan-suspension/”Left tackle Taylor Lewan will miss the first four games of the season after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs (Titan Sized)>
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