After starting the preseason on a high note in the tackling department, alleviating some of the big concerns regarding the lack of tackling in Mike McCarthy\u2019s first training camp as head coach, the Pittsburgh Steelers have taken a significant step back in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
The Steelers missed 15 tackles in their preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills and 13 in their regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Four players missed multiple tackles, while one miss came on special teams.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still early, but it\u2019s concerning to see that number of missed tackles right out of the gate.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at this week\u2019s missed tackles report.<\/p>\n
TOTAL MISSED TACKLES VS. FALCONS \u2014 13<\/p>\n
Payton Wilson \u2013 3 (13 tackles on 16 attempts, 18.75% miss rate)
Nick Herbig \u2013 2 (2 tackles on 4 attempts, 50% miss rate)
Patrick Queen \u2013 2 (7 tackles on 9 attempts, 22.2% miss rate)
Asante Samuel Jr. \u2013 2 (1 tackle on 3 attempts, 66.6% miss rate)\u00a0
Jalen Ramsey \u2013 1 (4 tackles on 5 attempts, 20% miss rate)\u00a0
Jaquan Brisker \u2013 1 (6 tackles on 7 attempts, 14.3% miss rate)\u00a0
Alex Highsmith \u2013 1 (3 tackles on 4 attempts, 25% miss rate)
Robert Spears-Jennings \u2013 1 (special teams) (3 tackles on 4 attempts, 25% miss rate)<\/p>\n
Coming into Week 1, the emphasis was on shutting down star running back Bijan Robinson with Atlanta down to third-string quarterback Cooper Rush. Even with that emphasis on Robinson, the Steelers had a tough time getting the two-time Pro Bowler on the ground, both as a runner and a receiver.<\/p>\n
The Steelers missed 10 tackles against Robinson, which makes sense considering he accounted for 173 of the Falcons\u2019 238 total yards. He was a one-man wrecking crew.<\/p>\n
While inside linebacker Payton Wilson had a great performance with 13 tackles and two tackles for loss, he missed a team-high three tackles. He was much more aggressive attacking downhill against the run, something he showed in the preseason, which is encouraging. He just has to eliminate some of the misses.<\/p>\n
One Wilson miss I wanted to highlight came on a quick throw to Drake London in the right flat.<\/p>\n
Highlighting some the worst missed tackles from the #Steelers<\/a> Sunday against the #Falcons<\/a>.<\/p>\n First one is from ILB Payton Wilson. He had a great game, but at times he played a bit out of control, particularly in space.<\/p>\n Short throw to the flat. Takes a bad angle. pic.twitter.com\/iMvwHXIZ7K<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Wilson does a nice job of getting out there, but he doesn\u2019t take a proper angle and is a bit overzealous closing in on London. That allows the Falcons\u2019 star receiver to set him up in space, cutting back inside, causing Wilson to dive and grasp at air for a rough missed tackle.<\/p>\n Where the Steelers really struggled though was against Bijan Robinson.<\/p>\n Asante Samuel Jr.\u2019s first miss was a rough one to watch.<\/p>\n Asante Samuel Jr. did an admirable job stepping in for Joey Porter Jr. Sunday, particularly in coverage. He had some issues tackling though, which isn\u2019t a surprise. Always been a struggle for him.<\/p>\n Here on a swing route to Bijan Robinson, ducks his head and doesn\u2019t try to wrap. pic.twitter.com\/8TcIzpK82u<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s a simple swing route to the flat, and the Steelers have it guarded well. Robinson has one lead blocker with a handful of Steelers defenders closing in on him. Samuel has the sideline as an extra defender for help, but he allows Robinson to slip inside.<\/p>\n As Robinson does that, Samuel ducks his head and whiffs in space. That allows Robinson to pick up a couple of extra yards to cap a 7-yard gain.<\/p>\n Finally, I want to highlight Herbig\u2019s miss on Brian Robinson Jr. in the backfield.<\/p>\n OLB Nick Herbig\u2019s miss was the toughest one to see.<\/p>\n He played this run so well, defeating the WR on the end of the line before shooting into the backfield. Plays with good form here and gets two arms wrapped around the RB.<\/p>\n Herbig just didn\u2019t have the play strength to finish. pic.twitter.com\/nO6S7heFzg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n After signing a massive contract extension this summer, this is the exact type of play Herbig needs to make, particularly against the run.<\/p>\n He does everything well initially, defeating the block from the wide receiver and shooting into the backfield. He\u2019s square and plays with good form, too. There\u2019s just a lack of strength here.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the most concerning part. Brian Robinson Jr. just outmuscles him to shake off the tackle, and he picks up 15 yards after what should have been at least a 3-yard loss.<\/p>\n While their defense and special teams missed 13 tackles, the Steelers forced 10 missed tackles by the Falcons, but that means they lost the all-important tackle battle by -3, falling to 0-1 on the season in the category. Fortunately, they came in a win where it truly counts.<\/p>\n TOTAL FORCED MISSED TACKLES VS. FALCONS \u2014 10<\/p>\n Jaylen Warren \u2013 6 I\u2019m not sure if Angry Runs are still a thing with Kyle Brandt after all the changes the NFL Network underwent this summer. But if the popular segment remains, Darnell Washington is undoubtedly going to win the Week 1 scepter.<\/p>\n Offensively, Pittsburgh closed the game on a high note in the forced mixed tackles department.<\/p>\n Darnell Washington has done it again, folks. This should have another Angry Runs scepter headed his way. Bounces the Atlanta safety off the turf. pic.twitter.com\/4kFEFnPxkO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Much like he did last season against the Cincinnati Bengals to win his first one, Washington bounced a defender off the turf with a violent stiff arm. This time it was Atlanta safety Xavier Watts on the receiving end.<\/p>\n Washington is a cheat code. Good luck trying to tackle him one-on-one in space.<\/p>\n I also want to highlight Jaylen Warren in this space. The Steelers\u2019 ground game sputtered throughout the day, but late in the game they were able to run the football and ice the win. Warren played a critical part in that, particularly with this fourth quarter run.<\/p>\n The run game wasn\u2019t all that good throughout the game, but when it mattered most the #Steelers<\/a> ran the ball well.<\/p>\n Jaylen Warren made three defenders miss on this run and finished with force, dragging defenders at the end. pic.twitter.com\/Lvv7QXI2Ud<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Warren makes the linebacker miss in the hole. He then splits a pair of defensive backs to force two more misses before then finishing the run like he usually does: barreling forward and dragging multiple defenders with him.<\/p>\n
Darnell Washington \u2013 1\u00a0
Pat Freiermuth \u2013 1\u00a0
Rico Dowdle \u2013 1\u00a0
Eli Heidenreich \u2013 1 (special teams)\u00a0<\/p>\n