{"id":294948,"date":"2025-08-17T08:52:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T08:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/294948\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T08:52:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T08:52:17","slug":"steelers-hc-mike-tomlin-names-2-rookies-who-impressed-him-the-most-vs-buccaneers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/294948\/","title":{"rendered":"Steelers HC Mike Tomlin names 2 rookies who impressed him the most vs. Buccaneers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> falling short to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> in their second preseason matchup of 2025, HC Mike Tomlin<\/a> was impressed with the Steel City rookies \u2014 specifically the team\u2019s top two selections from last April\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

Following the Steelers<\/a>\u2019 14-17 preseason loss, Tomlin revealed to reporters which rookies impressed him the most: first-round DE Derrick Harmon and third-round RB Kaleb Johnson.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHarmon and Kaleb Johnson really took a step forward off of their first performance,\u201d Tomlin said Saturday’s postgame press conference.<\/a> \u201cBut again, that\u2019s a reasonable thing to expect. Second time stepping into a stadium, you see more of their talents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tomlin hit the nail on the head \u2014 as Harmon bullied Buccaneers G Ben Scott<\/a> on his way to earning his first sack as a Steeler, while Johnson exploded for 59 yards from scrimmage on just 12 touches.<\/p>\n

In less than 25 days, Johnson and Harmon will get the opportunity to translate their preseason success into regular-season dominance, when the Steelers kick off their 2025 campaign against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 7 at 1:00 PM EST.<\/p>\n

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire<\/a> and give our Facebook page<\/a> a like.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin names 2 rookies who stood out vs. Buccaneers<\/a><\/p>\n