Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Players demanding attention vs. Lions in preseason

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers finished below .500 was back in 2003. And this will be a different-looking roster after quite the offseason.

Call it a year of transition in the Steel City. That may sound kind of odd for a team coming off a 12-4 showing and an AFC North title. But things wound up not going so well for the Pittsburgh Steelers are an 11-0 start. And it was capped off by an ugly 48-37 home loss to the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

Since then, notable players such as center Maurkice Pouncey, guard David DeCastro, outside linebacker Bud Dupree, running back James Conner and linebacker Vince Williams are no longer with the organization for different reasons. It’s a new look roster but veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back for his 18th season.

Here are three players that warrant some added attention as the Steelers host the Detroit Lions.

3. WR James Washington

This franchise has hit plenty of home runs when it comes to finding wide receiver talent in the draft, most notably in recent times and not having to utilize a first-round pick.

Mike Wallace was chosen in the third round in 2009. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown were third and sixth-round selections, respectively, in 2010. Juju Smith-Schuster was a second-round pick in 2017, Diontae Johnson was a third-rounder in 2019 and productive Chase Claypool was the 49th overall selection a year ago.

James Washington came via a second-round choice in 2018. In three seasons with the club, he’s totaled a modest 90 receptions for 1,344 yards and nine scores. There have been recent rumblings about him making a trade request.

"“That’s a private conversation,” he told Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “As far as me being happy in Pittsburgh, I love it here. Who wouldn’t be happy playing football as their job? I come to work every day with a smile on my face. I’m eager to be here with my guys – joking around, laughing. Playing a sport I love.”"

The team’s wide receiver depth chart is indeed pretty stacked. But that doesn’t mean Washington is indeed going anywhere soon if at all. It will be interesting to see if he sees some extended action against the Lions.