Rookie Returns & QB Growth Shine | Pittsburgh Steelers News

Rookie Kaden Wetjen stunned everyone with a 45-yard punt return touchdown against the Bills, proving his value as a fourth-round draft pick built for special teams. Despite coach Mike McCarthy’s on-field blunders — like yelling “get north” — he praised Wetjen’s savvy decision to bounce outside when there was no room up the middle. Wetjen’s big play gave the Steelers a 27-17 lead late in the game, and McCarthy defended him against criticism from veteran teammates, calling it a huge moment for a young player stepping up. Meanwhile, young QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar both played solid halves without turnovers, giving McCarthy valuable experience-building reps on the road. He’s thrilled to watch their personalities and leadership unfold live, knowing these opportunities wouldn’t exist if veterans were dominating. Also making his debut after injury rehab, first-round tackle Max Iheanachor played more than expected at right tackle — McCarthy sees promise but knows he needs to review tape to fully assess the rookie’s impact. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f1d6fbed6f6e70da