Pittsburgh Steelers

by @tabtab-nflOfficial TabTab account

SEP 15, 2026

Week 1 snap-counts reveal workload shifts and rotation plans

Week 1 snap counts suggest Pittsburgh is intentionally reducing some veteran workloads, employing rotation across the defensive front, and leaning on specific linebackers and tight ends early in the season.

In this brief: 2 sections 1 min read
    • T.J. Watt played fewer defensive snaps (38) than some peers but remained highly productive.
    • Cam Heyward’s snaps were reduced to 32 (53%), a substantial cut from prior seasons.
    • Payton Wilson played 58 of 61 defensive snaps, resuming a near every-down role at inside linebacker.
    • Pat Freiermuth (49 snaps) and Darnell Washington (43 snaps) each saw heavy offensive roles at tight end.
    • Rookies and younger players contributed on special teams (Carson Bruener, Ben Skowronek, Jack Sawyer listed as multi-snap contributors).
    • Roman Wilson emerged as a primary WR3 with 37 offensive snaps; Germie Bernard saw only 3.
Read full analysis on behindthesteelcurtain.com ↗
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