Steelers-Buccaneers Preseason Gameday: TV Info, Lines, Injuries, More

The Pittsburgh Steelers will get the 2023 season officially started with their first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.

STEELERS GAMEDAY INFO

Preseason Week 1, Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers(0-0)
Friday, Aug. 10, 2023, 7 p.m.
Raymond James Stadium (69,218, Natural Grass)

Broadcast
TV: KDKA-TV (Bob Pompeani, Charlie Batch, Missi Matthews), NFL+ (Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Dan Lucas)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network, 102.5 WDVE-FM (Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley, Max Starks)

SN Coverage: Alan Saunders
Forecast: Mostly sunny, 91 degrees, wind NW 8 mph.
Lines: Steelers -150, Steelers -3, over/under 39.5 FanDuel Sportsbook Promo — $1,000 No Sweat First Bet

AT STAKE

Well, it’s the preseason, so … not much. We will see the Pittsburgh Steelers debuts of a number of rookies, including first-round pick Broderick Jones, who should play quite a bit. It will also be the first time uniform for 2022 pick Calvin Austin III.

RELATED: First Steelers Preseason Game Critical for Calvin Austin III

Head coach Mike Tomlin said that all healthy Steelers players will play, and we’ll get to the injury report here in a second. One exception to that might be free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is healthy but has had just two full practices after missing a week of training camp for personal reasons. Other vets like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward might play, but it will probably only be sparingly.

Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett is expected to play, though for how long, Tomlin has not announced. Last season, starter Mitch Trubisky played two drives in the preseason opener and it seems reasonable to expect Pickett to do about the same this year.

INJURY REPORT

NFL teams don’t issue official injury reports for preseason games, but we’ll give our best estimation here.

Safety Tre Norwood (right calf) and running back John Lovett (undisclosed) both did not practice at all this week and should be considered out.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (left ankle), outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hip flexor), safety Damontae Kazee (left ankle) and safety Keanu Neal (undisclosed) all were limited to individual portions of practice on Wednesday and should be considered doubtful.

Defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal and guard Kevin Dotson participated in the team portions of practice, but were not at 100%. Their participation is questionable.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Not much has gotten out about what the Buccaneers and head coach Todd Bowles’ intentions are in terms of playing time. Old friend Baker Mayfield will start the game. He’s in a battle with former second-round pick Kyle Trask. Both should play in this one.

OLD FRIENDS

Offensive lineman Matt Feiler is now with Tampa after spending the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The former Steelers tackle and guard is expected to start at left guard between Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen.

Outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. was with the Steelers last season. Inside backer Ulysees Gilbert III was the Steelers’ sixth-round pick in 2019. He was waived last August and spend 2022 on the Bucs’ practice squad.

Linebacker SirVocea Dennis and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey are both rookies out of Pitt. Kancey is not expected to play while rehabbing a calf injury. Wide receiver Chris Godwin is a Penn State alum.

The Bucs coaching staff is full of Pittsburgh ties. Director of player personnel Rob McCartney and senior advisor to the general manager Bruce Arians are both former Steelers staff members.

On the coaching staff, assistant head coach Harold Goodwin and assistant coach Tom Moore both coached the Steelers, and inside linebackers coach Larry Foote played in Black and Gold.

Head strength and conditioning coach Anthony Piroli is an Aliquippa native, IUP alum and formerly worked at Pitt.

THE LAST TIME

Mitch Trubisky came on in relief of an injured Kenny Pickett and manufactured a scoring drive with a go-ahead touchdown pass to Chase Claypool to give the Steelers a 20-18 win over Tom Brady and the Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 16, 2022.

The teams last met in the preseason in 2019, when Mason Rudolph threw touchdown passes to Zach Gentry and Tevin Jones as the Steelers won, 30-28.

SERIES

The Steelers and Buccaneers have four all-time preseason meetings, with the series even at 2-2. This will be the first preseason game between the teams at Raymond James Stadium. The Steelers lost at Tampa Stadium in 1995 and in a Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio in 1998. They won at Three Rivers Stadium in 1996.