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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 08.18.25
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Brian Batko
10:01
Hi everyone, we’ll get started in 15-20 minutes. Pittsburgh traffic is more jammed up than a 1970s receiver facing Mel Blount.
artie bridge
10:19
Hey Bats, my guy Lew Nichols continues to impress.  My questions:  Have the Steelers ever carried four rb's? And, does Nichols play special teams, where he could heighten his chance of making the final 53?
Brian Batko
10:19
They probably have, yes, and he has gotten a chance on special teams. But I still don’t see him making it unless maybe he goes absolutely bonkers Thursday night and/or someone goes down.
Steel City Kid in Alabama
10:21
Morning! I couldn’t help but notice a couple of more low snaps the other night. Is anyone starting to worry over there?
Brian Batko
10:22
I’m sure they’re not worried that Zach Frazier has the yips or anything but it has to be a concern to iron that out before Week 1.
Lou
10:23
Hey Brian. Of all the WR potential additions the Steelers could make, which player do you think has the best shot of being on the team by game 1? Or maybe it’s a wait and see how the season goes and make an in season deal?
Brian Batko
10:26
Well the way you word that question, I guess it has to be a free agent, so Amari Cooper or Gabe Davis
BD
10:27
Which players have been released so far or is it too early?
Brian Batko
10:28
No one of note yet. Cut down day is Aug. 26 and they no longer do waves of cuts. It’s all at once.
Tampa Too
10:28
Brian, what do you think is going to happen with the quarterback situation since you have four quarterbacks and all of them seem to be playing well. Unfortunately, Howard has been injured, but Thompson has done very well. What happens with him?
Brian Batko
10:29
He has played well but I still think he gets the ax. Maybe back on the practice squad if no one scoops him up.
Jersey Danno
10:30
Good morning Brian. What are you hearing from your North Texas colleagues? Are they in love with George Pickens?
Brian Batko
10:30
Haven't really talked to any Dallas media but they're all still in the honeymoon phase down there. Not unlike Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, DK Metcalf and the Steelers up here.
Fritz
10:31
What's your take on Max Hurleman's chances of making 53 man roster? I know the two drops vs TB didn't help but his fumble recovery was spot on. I believe had he caught the TD, we'd be talking about him stacking two good games together.
Brian Batko
10:31
They aren't great, but his versatility is a wild card for his chances. That WR room is such a moving target that I think there's a wide array of outcomes for who's in and who's out.
Nicholas
10:32
Hi Brian...thanks for the chats.  Is there a camp surprise that you believe will make the 53-man roster?
Brian Batko
10:33
No one I'd put money on, but the aforementioned Max Hurleman is probably the closest to a true out-of-nowhere type with a shot. Brandon Johnson is under the radar but he's been productive, too. The thing about both those guys is they'd probably clear waivers, so that makes it tough to find yourself on the initial 53.
10CC
10:34
Hey Brian.  Do you know if the Steelers had any interest in the wide receiver Mechie?  I think he would have been a good fit as the #2 wideout without giving up too much for him.  Thank you.
Brian Batko
10:35
John Metchie went from the Texans to the Eagles for a Day 3 pick swap and tight end Harrison Bryant. As much as we want to speculate on how the Steelers truly feel about their receivers, that's solid evidence that Omar Khan isn't even willing to pay a cheap price right now for someone like Metchie, a 2022 second-round pick.
Jebba the Hutt
10:36
When a player is placed on waivers, is the process first-come, first-served, or do teams follow a set order when making claims? Also, do players have any input in which team they end up with?
Brian Batko
10:37
It's a waiver system like you might use in your fantasy league, with a 24-hour period for teams to put in claims, so no it isn't the first club to see a player land on the wire.
Willie G.
10:38
Hi Brian, enjoy your work.  Going into the final preseason game , which players make the practice squad?
Brian Batko
10:38
The ones who don't make the 53
62 Stack Monster
10:38
Good morning, Brian, Does Robert Woods make the team?  I say go younger, it's a young man's game.
Brian Batko
10:41
I don't see it. Not after playing late in that game Saturday night. He gets open here and there, but at 33, he just doesn't have any juice left. Why keep him over someone like Scotty Miller or Brandon Johnson? And Ben Skowronek got a signing bonus, so clearly he's in the plans for doing the dirty work stuff and special teams at least.
FC
10:41
GM Brain, and thanks for your insight! It looks like Holcomb is back after his injury.  Any chance he pushes to be a starter?
Brian Batko
10:43
Not unless Patrick Queen or Payton Wilson gets hurt. Those two are the guys there. But I do think Cole Holcomb looks better than Malik Harrison, who was signed to a deal commensurate with being the third inside linebacker. Credit to Holcomb for coming all the way back and playing at a pretty high level.
AB
10:43
Hi Brian, thanks for the chats which are always great. Jason Mackey has been arguing the Steelers need a real #2. I could not agree more. I hated the George Pickens trade and thought there was not enough scrutiny of the move by the local media. Pickens would have been fighting for a new deal (so you theoretically should have gotten his best). Further, I would argue that he makes this team a serious competitor for a playoff win and maybe a SB run. A third round pick is nice but it seems like a bad move considering this is the one chance with Rodgers. Please provide your view on the trade now with some time having passed.
Brian Batko
10:44
You're welcome, AB. But why do you assume George Pickens would be "fighting" for anything right now as opposed to holding in for a new deal or trade? I can't fathom how people fail to separate Pickens on the field from Pickens off the field based on everything we saw in his first three seasons. On a video game roster or fantasy football team, he and DK Metcalf would be a nightmare. In real life, it was an untenable situation.
Andy Carnegie
10:45
Hey Bats, it's been a few weeks since I've been able to ask a question.  Hope all is well!  Do you think CAIII will be placed on the PUP list and one of the WRs will be bumped up?  If so, which receiver do you see making the team as the fifth one (or will they keep 6)?  I'd also keep Galbraith and cut Connor.  He hasn't improved much each year since his rookie season.  His floor and ceiling are the same at this point.  Sure, he plays ST but it's not like he's irreplaceable.
Brian Batko
10:47
Procedurally, Calvin Austin III would have to be part of the initial 53-man roster and then placed on injured reserve. You can't just stash a guy at this time of year. I can't get behind JJ Galbreath over Connor Heyward. If anything, just don't keep a fourth tight end and devote that spot to an extra running back, receiver, defensive lineman, linebacker or defensive back. But with as much as this offense uses its tight ends, Heyward could be in good shape.
Silent Bob
10:48
Good Morning Brian - do UDFAs really get a shot? The team would never drop a rookie draft pick for a UDFA, would they? It seems like the team has to say 'we were right' in our drafts. I would think they sometimes miss the better player. Hurleman over Johnson, for example? The UDFAs are highly motivated too. I am guessing they don't get much of a real shot.
Brian Batko
10:50
They do - just ask Beanie Bishop, Jaylen Warren, James Pierre, Fred Johnson, Ola Adeniyi - but it's an uphill battle for the reasons you mention. A lot of draft picks are "on scholarship" but it's not necessarily politics. Those players have enough pedigree/college production/measurables that their evaluation warranted a pick, so of course the team is going to give them more of a runway to get going.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
10:51
Is Amari Cooper the best option as a FA wide receiver addition or is he not really an upgrade over Austin and Williams? I'm torn on the issue as the question is, will Cooper be worth the salary cap hit? Do the Steelers wait until other teams make last cuts to see if a nice vet may be available later or do they seize the opportunity?
Brian Batko
10:54
To me, it's pretty clear at this point that the Steelers don't view the remaining free agent options as worth sacrificing salary cap room that might be needed for one or more veteran players looking for a pay bump. Not to mention the cushion you want to keep around in any season in case of injury, trade, etc.
Ryan
10:54
Brian what do you think about the play of Logan Lee he looked good when he replaced Christian Kuntz when he was injured GO STEELERS
Brian Batko
10:55
Yeah, that didn't stop the Steelers from working out some snappers yesterday, but Logan Lee can only help his standing by doing something like that, particularly on short notice.
Stormcrown
10:56
Is Mark Robinson such a special teams demon that he still makes the team?
Brian Batko
10:58
Possibly. It looks like it'll come down to him or Carson Bruener for that fifth linebacker spot, which is obviously more about running down on kickoffs and punts to tackle the man with the ball.
Tommy from Florida
10:58
I saw the Nichols question, so I bypassed asking about him, but he looks good. Hope he makes it. I'd like to know if there are any players you feel that are on the bubble that need to stand out or step up this week. Your thoughts? TY
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