Category: 2024 season Week 3 – Steelers vs Chargers

Steelers’ rookie center Zach Frazier has an elite performance for the third straight week

Zach Frazier has been one of the best Steelers’ players on the offensive side of the ball, delivering a third straight elite performance.

While hearts were crushed when reports came out that Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie right tackle Troy Fauntau suffered a serious knee injury, eyes are now on another rookie who is stepping up in a big way. Zach Frazier, in all three games thus far, has looked like the Steelers’ best offensive player on the field.

The Steelers’ second-round rookie was considered one of the many great selections that Pittsburgh made in the 2024 draft. One can clearly watch as the offense makes their drives why Pittsburgh was so high on him to begin with. He is fantastic in all facets of the game, whether it is calling out blitzes, pass protection, or creating running lanes. He was a true gem from the 2024 draft class.

https://twitter.com/PPP_Benjamin/status/1837959989719408745

It will come to the surprise of no one when Frazier is named one of PFF’s players of the week. He quite possibly was the X-factor behind today’s offensive revival.

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Nick Herbig was destructive in Week 3, but is anyone really surprised?

Nick Herbig was the most dominant player on the football field in Week 3.

Pittsburgh Steelers edge Nick Herbig was dominant off the right edge in Week 3. Herbig came in at the end of the first half to relieve Alex Highsmith, who suffered a groin injury against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Some viewers from the Week 3 contest may not truly understand just how destructive Herbig was in the Week 3 victory: 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and three quarterback pressures on just 8 pass-rush snaps.

This shouldn’t surprise Steelers fans, however, as he was just as dominant in the preseason: 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and six quarterback pressures on 22 pass-rush snaps throughout the three preseason games.

T.J. Watt also seems to understand that Herbig destroying defenses is just a norm we need to start accepting.

If Highsmith has to miss time with his groin injury, the edge position opposite Watt is in good hands. Herbig will continue to prove to himself, the coaches, and the fans that he deserves to be on the field as much as possible.

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Steelers LB Patrick Queen reacts to victory over Chargers

Patrick Queen let an interception slip right through his hands, but it won’t stop him from celebrating the Pittsburgh Steelers win. 

Patrick Queen let an interception slip right through his hands, but it won’t stop him from celebrating the Pittsburgh Steelers win.

Queen, Pittsburgh’s leading tackler in Week 3, posted to X: “Set the tone baby!! God is Good! 3-0.”

In their home opener, the Steelers took it to the Los Angeles Chargers in their most balanced game of this early season. 3-0 is their best record since the 2020 season when Pittsburgh went 11-0 before dropping five of the final six games, including the Wild Card round versus the Cleveland Browns.

Queen had been quiet through the first two games, leading some to wonder when there would be a return on investment. But it seems like the third game is a charm for the former 28th-overall draft pick. Queen racked up eight total tackles (four solo) and a pass defended.

The pick would’ve been the icing on the cake, but they’ll come with that aggressive playing style and positive outlook.

https://twitter.com/Patrickqueen_/status/1837949716996173896

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Chris Boswell hits career milestone in Steelers Week 3 win over Chargers

Chris Boswell has achieved a historical feat on Sunday against the Chargers: 1,000 career points.

While all eyes were focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, kicker Chris Boswell created all the buzz: Kicking two PATs and two field goals to reach 1,000 career points.

Boswell is only the second Steelers player to ever accomplish this feat, the first being 2024 Hall of Fame nominee Gary Anderson.

The ‘Wizard of Boz’ has cemented himself as one of the greatest kickers of all time, and shows no signs of slowing down.  Boswell was pivotal in the Steelers’ Week 1 victory and has been instrumental in many key moments since.

Boswell’s career milestone may have inspired T.J. Watt, who seeks his own milestone in Week 4: Needing only half a sack more to become the NFL’s second-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks.

Boswell is in his 10th NFL season. He has spent his entire career with the Steelers after joining them as an undrafted free agent out of Rice. Boswell has only made the Pro Bowl once and has never been an All-Pro.

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Steelers get statement win over Chargers

Pittsburgh took over in the fourth quarter and pulled off a huge home win.

The Pittsburgh Steelers remained undefeated after a resounding 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Pittsburgh absolutely dominated the second half on both sides of the football in the second half holding the Chargers to -4 total yards in the half while the Steelers offense came to life.

Justin Fields got his third start of the season at quarterback and had his best game. Fields threw for 245 yards and had one touchdown along with one interception. The run game took center stage with Najee Harris getting 70 yards and Cordarrelle Patterson with 33 more.

On defense, the Steelers pass rush was relentless. They sacked Chargers quarterbacks five times including two by Nick Herbig who came in for an injured Alex Highsmith. Chargers running back JK Dobbins came into the game leading the league in rushing but finished with just 44 rushing yards.

Now the Steelers go back on the road next week to take on the Indianapolis Colts as they hope to remain undefeated.

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Justin Herbert OUT with injury for Chargers

Justin Herbert reaggravated his ankle injury and has been replaced by backup QB Taylor Heinicke.

Justin Herbert has been replaced by Taylor Heinicke in the Chargers’ last-drive of the 3rd quarter.  Herbert was initially questionable to play in the Week 3 contest against Pittsburgh, and many considered the wise choice for head coach Jim Harbaugh would have been to keep him off the field against the Steelers’ elite pass rush this week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got to Herbert early and often.  The hit that took the Chargers quarterback off the field was a sack by linebacker Elandon Roberts.

Justin Herbert was visibly limping all game, and Pittsburgh ensured he felt uncomfortable with as much pressure as they could generate.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to place the final nail in the Chargers’ coffin, as they lead 13-10 in the 4th quarter.

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Alex Highsmith doubtful to return with groin injury

Alex Highsmith injured his groin towards the end of the first half, and he is now deemed doubtful to return.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was injured just as he nearly recorded a drive-ending sack on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert with a little over one minute remaining.  Herbert scrambled away and threw for a first down, but when the dust settled, Highsmith was headed for the medical tent.

This isn’t the kind of body language you would expect out of a player attempting to rejoin the game, and we now know the reason why: Highsmith was deemed doubtful to return.

https://twitter.com/SteelersPRBurt/status/1837918416247636040

Injuries are utterly devastating the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks into the regular season.  Alex Highsmith is a pivotal piece in the dynamic edge rushing duo with T.J. Watt, and now it will be up to second-year player Nick Herbig to shoulder the privilege of sacking the quarterback.

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Steelers have only 3 active receivers after Van Jefferson questionable with an eye injury

Van Jefferson was pulled out of the game in Week 3 with an eye injury, leaving the Steelers with only three active wide receivers.

As if Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury concerns couldn’t get any worse, wide receiver Van Jefferson has been pulled from the game with an eye injury and is questionable to return.

This comes after rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson was deemed inactive to start the Week 3 game, leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers with only three wide receivers active for the game: George Pickens, Calvin Austin, and Scotty Miller. So far we have seen Miller more involved in the offense.

 

The last thing the Steelers needed was more potential problems on the offensive side of the ball.  It is safe to say that the Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to run the ball, focus on heavy-TE sets, utilize pass-catching RB/WR hybrid Cordarrelle Patterson, and use more quarterback designed runs to mitigate this depth issue.

Steelers CB Cory Trice Jr. DOUBTFUL to return with injury

The Steelers are without their primary backup cornerback against the Chargers.

It didn’t take long for the Pittsburgh Steelers to get awfully short-handed. The Steelers have lost starting wide receiver Van Jefferson to an apparent eye injury and now cornerback Cory Trice Jr. is doubtful to return with a hamstring injury according to ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor.

Steelers Week 3 Inactives: Rookie WR debut on hold

The Week 3 inactive list for the Pittsburgh Steelers highlights key omissions from this week’s game, such as Roman Wilson, who was scheduled to debut in this game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been hit by the injury bug to start this season, and while it is slowly improving, several key names will remain on the inactives list for Week 3:

While most of these names were to be expected, with Russell Wilson being reportedly held out until after Week 3, one surprising inclusion to this list is 2024 3rd-round draft pick, rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson.

The standout wide receiver from Michigan’s 2023 championship campaign had practiced fully on Friday, and many fans were hoping to see him make his regular season debut.  Although Roman Wilson will miss his third straight week, if this week’s practices were any indication, fans can expect him to be available in Week 4.