How Many of Steelers Problems Can Be Solved by Bye Week?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been far from perfect through the first five games of the 2023 season. They’ve struggled with consistency on both offense and defense, and quarterback Kenny Pickett has not shown consistent development.

In 2022, the team had a similar early-season struggle but then turned things around in a big way. After starting the season with a 2-6 record, the Steelers recovered after the bye to go 7-2 in the second half, including winning six of their final seven games. Now, heading into the bye at 3-2, can the Steelres find similar success and turn it into a successful season? The team is getting healthy just in time for the second-half turnaround to the season. Diontae Johnson, Anthony McFarland, Pat Freiermuth, and DeMarvin Leal are all expected back for the Steelers this week.

The Steelers’ early season start has been frustrating for the entire team, as not only has the team failed to perform to expectation, but it has lost several key players due to injury. That has left some of the team’s veteran leaders, like Johnson and Cameron Heyward, on the sidelines and unable to help right the ship, at least in an on-the-field role.

Is that the recipe for success in 2023? Or do the team’s problems this season surpass what can be fixed in a simple bye week? Alan Saunders of Steelers Now joined Jeff Hartman of the Let’s Ride Podcast on Monday.